With the start of summer comes a refresh of movies and TV on Netflix, and some classic films are leaving the streamer throughout the month of June.
On June 1, fan-favorite flicks “50 First Dates,” “8 Mile,” and “Men in Black,” will be removed, and later in the month Netflix will also lose “Captain America: Civil War,” six seasons of “Baby Daddy,” and the 1974 adaptation of “The Great Gatsby.”
Check out the full list of titles leaving Netflix below:
June 1
50 First Dates
8 Mile
Gridiron Gang
J. Edgar
Men in Black
My Left Foot
Neerja
Out of the Dark
Princess Kaiulani
The Angry Birds Movie
The Brothers Grimm
The Spy Next Door
The Young Victoria
Training Day
Untraceable
Vice
What Our Fathers Did: A Nazi Legacy
While You Were Sleeping
June 3
Shark Men: Season 3
June 8
Grace of Monaco
June 9
The Trials of Muhammad Ali
June 10
Bonnie & Clyde
June 15
Drillbit Taylor
Naz & Maalik...
On June 1, fan-favorite flicks “50 First Dates,” “8 Mile,” and “Men in Black,” will be removed, and later in the month Netflix will also lose “Captain America: Civil War,” six seasons of “Baby Daddy,” and the 1974 adaptation of “The Great Gatsby.”
Check out the full list of titles leaving Netflix below:
June 1
50 First Dates
8 Mile
Gridiron Gang
J. Edgar
Men in Black
My Left Foot
Neerja
Out of the Dark
Princess Kaiulani
The Angry Birds Movie
The Brothers Grimm
The Spy Next Door
The Young Victoria
Training Day
Untraceable
Vice
What Our Fathers Did: A Nazi Legacy
While You Were Sleeping
June 3
Shark Men: Season 3
June 8
Grace of Monaco
June 9
The Trials of Muhammad Ali
June 10
Bonnie & Clyde
June 15
Drillbit Taylor
Naz & Maalik...
- 5/30/2018
- by Kirsten Chuba
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s your daily dose of an indie film, web series, TV pilot, what-have-you in progress, as presented by the creators themselves. At the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite.
In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.
Diamond Diplomacy
Logline: Devotion to baseball has been tossed between the U.S. and Japan since the late 1800s, and mirrors profound shifts in diplomacy between the two nations. “Diamond Diplomacy” charts this story revealing pivotal moments of often-controversial duality.
Elevator Pitch:
Baseball is the national pastime of two very different countries. “Diamond Diplomacy” is the never-before-told story about the dramatic ups and downs of U.S. and Japan diplomacy, since 1872, through the lens of a shared love of baseball. Several players and managers (including Babe Ruth and Lefty O’Doul) have been important ambassadors through baseball.
In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.
Diamond Diplomacy
Logline: Devotion to baseball has been tossed between the U.S. and Japan since the late 1800s, and mirrors profound shifts in diplomacy between the two nations. “Diamond Diplomacy” charts this story revealing pivotal moments of often-controversial duality.
Elevator Pitch:
Baseball is the national pastime of two very different countries. “Diamond Diplomacy” is the never-before-told story about the dramatic ups and downs of U.S. and Japan diplomacy, since 1872, through the lens of a shared love of baseball. Several players and managers (including Babe Ruth and Lefty O’Doul) have been important ambassadors through baseball.
- 10/24/2016
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
From today, Friday, September 16, 2016, until next week Friday, September 23rd, the Emmy Award-winning “The Trials of Muhammad Ali” (2013) from Kartemquin Films will be available to watch entirely for Free on the company’s streaming website. This move is… Continue Reading →...
- 9/16/2016
- by shadowandact
- ShadowAndAct
Reel-Important People is a monthly column that highlights those individuals in or related to the movies that have left us in recent weeks. Below you'll find names big and small and from all areas of the industry, though each was significant to the movies in his or her own way. Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) - Boxer. One of the most famous athletes of all time, he starred in his own 1977 biopic, The Greatest, which was based on his autobiography. He also stars as the main subject in the documentaries We Were Kings (see below), The Rumble in the Jungle, The Trials of Muhammad Ali, and I Am Ali, and appears in the docs Malcolm X, Norman Mailer: The American, Champions Forever, Soul Power, and Fidel, and in the fiction...
Read More...
Read More...
- 7/1/2016
- by Christopher Campbell
- Movies.com
Chicago – In the final chapter of a three-part interview, Gordon Quinn of Kartemquin Films desires to evolve forward, soon after the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the iconic Chicago documentary house have past.
The “studio” Quinn co-founded has kept their integrity intact, and strives to keep cinematically exploring human drama that promotes understanding between all levels of contemporary society.
There have been several high profile documentaries that have expressed that understanding, and have forged a pathway that “Hoop Dreams” opened up for them. “Vietnam, Long Time Coming” (1998), “The New Americans” (2004) series on PBS, “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” for Espn, “The Interrupters” (2011), “The Trials of Muhammad Ali” (2013) and “Life Itself” (2014) stand proudly alongside the best of the last 50 years, with three more films in post production awaiting release.
Director Steve James Composes ‘The Interrupters’ (2011)
Photo credit: Kartemquin Films
In Part Three, Kartemquin filmmaker Gordon Quinn reflects on the post “Hoops” year,...
The “studio” Quinn co-founded has kept their integrity intact, and strives to keep cinematically exploring human drama that promotes understanding between all levels of contemporary society.
There have been several high profile documentaries that have expressed that understanding, and have forged a pathway that “Hoop Dreams” opened up for them. “Vietnam, Long Time Coming” (1998), “The New Americans” (2004) series on PBS, “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson” for Espn, “The Interrupters” (2011), “The Trials of Muhammad Ali” (2013) and “Life Itself” (2014) stand proudly alongside the best of the last 50 years, with three more films in post production awaiting release.
Director Steve James Composes ‘The Interrupters’ (2011)
Photo credit: Kartemquin Films
In Part Three, Kartemquin filmmaker Gordon Quinn reflects on the post “Hoops” year,...
- 6/23/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – Two months ago, producer/director/cinematographer/editor Gordon Quinn received the Baadasssss Award from the 2016 Cimm Fest, for his longtime contributions to the cinema scene in Chicago through Kartemquin Films. The famous production house, known for their documentaries, is celebrating their 50th anniversary.
Kartemquin began in 1966 when three newly minted University of Chicago grads partnered to create socially conscious films, and took part of their names – Stan KARter, Jerry TEManer and Gordon QUINn – to form Kartemquin Films. Towards the end of the 1960s, Karter and Temaner had moved on, and the late Jerry Blumenthal stepped in to become the de facto fourth founder. It is Gordon Quinn that remains after 50 years, and he is the standard bearer for a film company that seeks to be a home for independent filmmakers who develop documentaries that deepen our understanding of society through everyday human drama – focusing on people whose lives are...
Kartemquin began in 1966 when three newly minted University of Chicago grads partnered to create socially conscious films, and took part of their names – Stan KARter, Jerry TEManer and Gordon QUINn – to form Kartemquin Films. Towards the end of the 1960s, Karter and Temaner had moved on, and the late Jerry Blumenthal stepped in to become the de facto fourth founder. It is Gordon Quinn that remains after 50 years, and he is the standard bearer for a film company that seeks to be a home for independent filmmakers who develop documentaries that deepen our understanding of society through everyday human drama – focusing on people whose lives are...
- 6/21/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
I previously profiled this new still-in-the-works documentary film from Chicago-based Kartemquin Films ("Hoop Dreams," "The Interrupters," "The Trials of Muhammad Ali"), titled "'63 Boycott," two years ago; they still need your help to complete it. Directed by Gordon Quinn ("A Good Man" documentary on choreographer Bill T. Jones), the film is about the 1963 Chicago school boycott, called “Freedom Day,” during which some 200,000 people, mostly school students, protested and marched over the school system's racist segregationist policies by then Cps Superintendent Benjamin Willis. The film...
- 12/9/2015
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
Read More: Fandor and Factory 25 Jointly Acquire 7 Feature Films Fandor will release over 30 films made and distributed by legendary Chicago documentary production studio Kartemquin Films,16 of which will be released November 5. The films in this partnership include the digital premieres of many rare and underexposed early works from Kartemquin, which is best known for producing the Academy Award-nominated "Hoop Dreams," the multi-award-winning "The Trials of Muhammad Ali" and 2014's Roger Ebert biography "Life Itself." "I have greatly admired the remarkable work of Kartemquin Films for decades," said Jonathan Marlow, co-founder and Chief Content Officer of Fandor. "We are absolutely delighted to add their phenomenal documentaries to the Fandor service." "It's a pleasure to have so many of our classic films digitally released for the first time as a collection on Fandor where we know they will be well received...
- 11/5/2015
- by Sonya Saepoff
- Indiewire
The Ida will present its 2015 Career Achievement Award to Gordon Quinn, Founder and Artistic Director of Kartemquin Films. He has produced, directed and served as cinematographer on over 55 feature films spanning five decades. His recent projects include "The Interrupters" (above), "The Trials of Muhammad Ali," and "Life Itself." Past winners include Robert Redford, Alex Gibney, Errol Morris, Michael Moore and Werner Herzog. The Ida's Pioneer Award will be presented to Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, under whose leadership the streaming service has acquired and produced an increasing number of feature-length documentaries and docuseries. Read More: "From Vice to Netflix, TV News Adapts to an On-Demand World" Tony Tabatznik and the Bertha Foundation will receive the Ida’s Amicus Award for their work supporting needs of the non-fiction media landscape. The Bertha Foundation's film funds have...
- 10/15/2015
- by Ruben Guevara
- Thompson on Hollywood
I only just found out about this new series airing on Al Jazeera America, titled "Hard Earned," from Kartemquin Films, the producers of several films we've covered on this blog, like "Hoop Dreams,” “The Interrupters,” “The Trials of Muhammad Ali,” and “Life Itself.” "Hard Earned" is described as "a provocative and in-depth look at the lives of five working-class American families." Further... "In six one-hour episodes, Al Jazeera America follows the families both at work and at home, as they juggle the rising costs of housing, education, food, medical bills and more – all while working low-wage jobs. As widening economic inequality and the wealth...
- 5/14/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
The British Urban Film Festival has scored a major coup in its coverage of the event after securing the UK festival rights to screen the premiere of critically-acclaimed documentary "The Trials of Muhammad Ali" in the opening weekend of September. Outspoken and passionate in his beliefs, #TrialsOfAli examines how one of the most celebrated sports champions of the 20th century risked his fame and fortune to follow his faith and conscience as he found himself at the centre of America's controversies over race, religion, and war. #BUFF2014, supported by Channel 4, will premiere "The Trials of Muhammad Ali" in London's Leicester Square...
- 7/8/2014
- by BUFF
- ShadowAndAct
Just last week, I reported on a new cable TV documentary series, Hard Earned, being produced by Al Jazeera America and the Chicago-based Kartemquin Films, about the struggles of low income families (Here).But that’s not the only documentary that Kartmequin Films has on its slate - a company responsible for some of the most important and acclaimed documentaries made during the last 20 years such as Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters, The Trials of Muhammad Ali, and the soon-to-be released documentary on the late film critic, Roger Ebert, Life Itself,.They also have currently in the works, Raising Bertie, produced by Kartemquin co founder Gordon Quinn and Justine...
- 4/21/2014
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
The Al Jazeera America cable news network and the Chicago-based documentary film company Kartemquin Films (responsible for such acclaimed documentaries as Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters, The Trials of Muhammad Ali and the soon-to-be released documentary about the late film critic Roger Ebert, Life Itself, among many others), announced today that they are currently jointly producing a documentary series for the network, about the hard realities of low income living in America.To begin airing in early 2015, the six part series, which is currently in production and will be called Hard Earned, will explore the lives of five American families in San Francisco, Washington, D.C.,...
- 4/18/2014
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
CNN isn’t the only cable news network going in for documentary series. Al Jazeera America today announced its latest collaboration – with Kartemquin Films on Hard Earned, a six-part documentary series exploring low-income life in America. Hard Earned is being executive produced by Kartemquin’s Steve James, Gordon Quinn, and Justine Nagan, who were responsible for Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters, The Trials of Muhammad Ali and recent Sundance hit Life Itself, among other documentaries. Five stories, set in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, and two in the Chicago area, will be intertwined into six one-hour episodes. The series will shed more light on an ever-growing sector of the American workforce. “Low wage jobs are the fastest growing sector of employment in the American economy,” says executive producer Steve James. Kartemquin’s previous multi-part series, The New Americans, a seven-hour series on immigration produced for PBS in 2004, was an International...
- 4/17/2014
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Kino Lorber will release, on DVD, The Trials of Muhammad Ali, a documentary from Kartemquin Films (the producers of Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters and more) and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bill Siegel (The Weather Underground), on April 22nd. Ahead of that home video release, the acclaimed documentary will air on PBS tonight, April 14, starting at 10pm (check your local listings). The powerful documentary examines the life of Muhammad Ali beyond the boxing ring to offer a personal perspective on the American sporting legend. Investigating Ali's spiritual transformation - including his conversion to Islam, his resistance to the Vietnam War draft, and his...
- 4/14/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Kino Lorber has announced the DVD release of The Trials of Muhammad Ali, a documentary from Kartemquin Films (the producers of Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters and more) and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bill Siegel (The Weather Underground). The powerful documentary examines the life of Muhammad Ali beyond the boxing ring to offer a personal perspective on the American sporting legend. Investigating Ali's spiritual transformation - including his conversion to Islam, his resistance to the Vietnam War draft, and his humanitarian work - the film connects Ali's transcendent life story to America's struggles with race, religion, and war in the twentieth...
- 3/27/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Le Chef (France-Spain) from Daniel Cohen and Jennifer M Kroot and Bill Weber’s To Be Takei (Us) will open the 2014 RiverRun International Film Festival, while Phillippe Le Guay’s Bicycling With Molière (France) will close the festival.
Gillian Robespierre’s (Us) Obvious Child is the Centerpiece Premiere and David Gordon Green’s Joe the Southern Showcase. The festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is set to run from April 4-13 and will screen 145 films, including 63 features and 82 shorts from 33 countries.
The 10 films in Narrative Competition include Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida (Poland-Denmark), Chloe Robichaud’s Sarah Prefers To Run (Canada), Tanta Agua (Uruguay-Mexico-Netherlands-Germany) from Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge and Andrzej Walda’s Walesa: Man Of Hope (Poland).
Documentary Competition entries include Dave Carroll’s Bending Steel (Us), Ben Cotner and Ryan White’s The Case Against 8 (Us), Marmato (Columbia-us) from Mark Grieco and Joe Berlinger’s Whitey (Us).
Special Presentations include Locke (UK) Breathe In (Us), The German Doctor...
Gillian Robespierre’s (Us) Obvious Child is the Centerpiece Premiere and David Gordon Green’s Joe the Southern Showcase. The festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is set to run from April 4-13 and will screen 145 films, including 63 features and 82 shorts from 33 countries.
The 10 films in Narrative Competition include Pawel Pawlikowski’s Ida (Poland-Denmark), Chloe Robichaud’s Sarah Prefers To Run (Canada), Tanta Agua (Uruguay-Mexico-Netherlands-Germany) from Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge and Andrzej Walda’s Walesa: Man Of Hope (Poland).
Documentary Competition entries include Dave Carroll’s Bending Steel (Us), Ben Cotner and Ryan White’s The Case Against 8 (Us), Marmato (Columbia-us) from Mark Grieco and Joe Berlinger’s Whitey (Us).
Special Presentations include Locke (UK) Breathe In (Us), The German Doctor...
- 3/4/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards went off without a hitch earlier this evening (February 22) with "12 Years a Slave" continuing to make waves snagging the biggest prize of the night.
Before her film won Outstanding Motion Picture, the gorgeous Lupita Nyong'o added another piece of hardware to her already impressive collection taking home a trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, while Kerry Washington snagged up her second Image Award with a win for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series. Kerry's show "Scandal" also won Outstanding Drama Series.
In addition, the hilarious Kevin Hart took home Entertainer of the Year, while Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to the late Nelson Mandela with a touching speech and musical dedication.
"He was everything we have all have heard and more. He was humble and he was unscathed by any kind of bitterness after all that we know he's been through," Winfrey said.
Before her film won Outstanding Motion Picture, the gorgeous Lupita Nyong'o added another piece of hardware to her already impressive collection taking home a trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, while Kerry Washington snagged up her second Image Award with a win for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series. Kerry's show "Scandal" also won Outstanding Drama Series.
In addition, the hilarious Kevin Hart took home Entertainer of the Year, while Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to the late Nelson Mandela with a touching speech and musical dedication.
"He was everything we have all have heard and more. He was humble and he was unscathed by any kind of bitterness after all that we know he's been through," Winfrey said.
- 2/23/2014
- GossipCenter
The 45th NAACP Image Awards were presented Saturday night (Feb. 22), with names like Kevin Hart, Kerry Washington, "12 Years a Slave" director Steve McQueen and Lupita Nyong'o being honored.
The Image Awards pay tribute to the best in film, TV, writing, music and literature. Take a look at the full list of winners below.
Winners are in bold.
Entertainer of the Year
Kevin Hart
Film
Outstanding Motion Picture
"12 Years A Slave" "Fruitvale Station""Lee Daniels' The Butler""Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom""The Best Man Holiday"
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Forest Whitaker - "Lee Daniels' The Butler"Chadwick Boseman - "42"Chiwetel Ejiofor - "12 Years A Slave"Idris Elba - "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom"Michael B. Jordan - "Fruitvale Station"
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett - "Black Nativity"Halle Berry - "The Call"Jennifer Hudson - "Winnie Mandela"Kerry Washington - "Tyler Perry Presents Peeples"Nicole Beharie...
The Image Awards pay tribute to the best in film, TV, writing, music and literature. Take a look at the full list of winners below.
Winners are in bold.
Entertainer of the Year
Kevin Hart
Film
Outstanding Motion Picture
"12 Years A Slave" "Fruitvale Station""Lee Daniels' The Butler""Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom""The Best Man Holiday"
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Forest Whitaker - "Lee Daniels' The Butler"Chadwick Boseman - "42"Chiwetel Ejiofor - "12 Years A Slave"Idris Elba - "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom"Michael B. Jordan - "Fruitvale Station"
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett - "Black Nativity"Halle Berry - "The Call"Jennifer Hudson - "Winnie Mandela"Kerry Washington - "Tyler Perry Presents Peeples"Nicole Beharie...
- 2/23/2014
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Adding their picks to the awards season deluge, the 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards unveiled the official list of nominees.
Not surprisingly, “The Butler” will compete in categories including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actor & Actress and Writing.
Meanwhile, Kerry Washington’s “Scandal” is up for Outstanding Drama Series, and Ms. Washington herself received a nod for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.
NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock gushed, “This has been an incredible year from the artistic community, with phenomenal contributions across the board from the music, television, motion picture, and literature genres that have the power and impact to drive social change.”
The 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards will go live on Friday, February 21st.
And the nominees are:
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
"House of Lies" (Showtime)
"Modern Family" (ABC)
"Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)
"The Game" (Bet)
"The Soul Man" (TV Land)
Outstanding Actor in...
Not surprisingly, “The Butler” will compete in categories including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actor & Actress and Writing.
Meanwhile, Kerry Washington’s “Scandal” is up for Outstanding Drama Series, and Ms. Washington herself received a nod for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.
NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock gushed, “This has been an incredible year from the artistic community, with phenomenal contributions across the board from the music, television, motion picture, and literature genres that have the power and impact to drive social change.”
The 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards will go live on Friday, February 21st.
And the nominees are:
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
"House of Lies" (Showtime)
"Modern Family" (ABC)
"Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)
"The Game" (Bet)
"The Soul Man" (TV Land)
Outstanding Actor in...
- 1/10/2014
- GossipCenter
The 2014 NAACP Image Awards nominations were announced Thursday (Jan. 9) at the Television Critics Association press tour by David Oyelowo ("The Butler"), Joe Morton ("Scandal"), Keke Palmer ("CrazySexyCool"), Bresha Webb ("Love That Girl!") and Gina Torres ("Suits").
The 45th annual NAACP Image Awards airs live Saturday, Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. Et/Pt on TVOne.
The list of nominees:
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
· "House of Lies" (Showtime)
· "Modern Family" (ABC)
· "Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)
· "The Game" (Bet)
· "The Soul Man" (TV Land)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
· Andre Braugher - "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (Fox)
· Cedric The Entertainer - "The Soul Man" (TV Land)
· Don Cheadle - "House of Lies" (Showtime)
· Dulé Hill - "Psych" (USA Network)
· Kevin Hart - "Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
· Aisha Tyler - "Archer" (FX Networks)
· Mindy Kaling - "The Mindy Project" (Fox)
· Niecy Nash - "The Soul Man" (TV Land...
The 45th annual NAACP Image Awards airs live Saturday, Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. Et/Pt on TVOne.
The list of nominees:
Television
Outstanding Comedy Series
· "House of Lies" (Showtime)
· "Modern Family" (ABC)
· "Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)
· "The Game" (Bet)
· "The Soul Man" (TV Land)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
· Andre Braugher - "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (Fox)
· Cedric The Entertainer - "The Soul Man" (TV Land)
· Don Cheadle - "House of Lies" (Showtime)
· Dulé Hill - "Psych" (USA Network)
· Kevin Hart - "Real Husbands of Hollywood" (Bet)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
· Aisha Tyler - "Archer" (FX Networks)
· Mindy Kaling - "The Mindy Project" (Fox)
· Niecy Nash - "The Soul Man" (TV Land...
- 1/9/2014
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Deborah is a dear friend, family and business, for many years.
She is a lifelong dedicated documentary filmmaker, one of our best. Her docu Oscar and Emmy awards attest to the talent and dedication.
Recently she has been discussing with me what she feels are the current shortcomings in this year's nominating Documentary Oscar process and especially the recently published 'short list' by the Academy.
We are very interested in hearing your feedback or comments on this issue which is Not likely to be discussed or raised in any other forum but which we consider Very important!!
Following is her statement on the present situation and the omission of certain very important titles from the AMPAS 'short list' of this year's documentaries..
by Deborah Shaffer -
As an Academy Award-winning documentary director and member of the doc branch of AMPAS, I was the lucky recipient of all 149 qualified documentaries in 2013. It has certainly been one of the more bountiful and exciting years ever. I wish that, as with fiction features, we had the option to nominate up to 10 titles. There are certainly enough excellent, strong candidates to fill a slate of 10. But there is something about this year's short list that has made me sad and disappointed and I don't know whether the fault lies in the process or the end result, but it's certainly the latter where it shows up.
Among the qualified films this year were an incredibly strong number of docs on African American history and culture, including Let the Fire Burn, The Trials of Muhammad Ali, Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, Gideon's Army, The New Black, and American Promise. Not One Of These Films Is On The Short List despite having been recognized at numerous other festivals and year end award events. It suggests a distressing pattern of oversight, and even more disappointing since 4 of the above films were directed by Black women.
I don't have any quick or easy solutions about how to address this. We are all bemoaning the nearly impossible burden of watching approximately 150 documentaries, yet I don't think anyone wants to go back to the bad old committee system. Certainly continuing the trend to diversifying the branch membership across gender, age, and race should help. Personally I would also like to see a system where fewer films qualify, making it more possible for more members to screen those docs that do make it through the gate.
As it stands now, anyone with enough money to four wall a theatrical opening in New York and La can meet the qualifications, essentially buying their way into the Oscar pool. There should be a way to close this loophole, which I estimate would cut the numbers by at least one third to one half. Our field has grown so much in recent years, and the overall quality of the films that have made it to the short list is staggeringly high. We need to find a way to make sure we reward the best, and not just the best known.
She is a lifelong dedicated documentary filmmaker, one of our best. Her docu Oscar and Emmy awards attest to the talent and dedication.
Recently she has been discussing with me what she feels are the current shortcomings in this year's nominating Documentary Oscar process and especially the recently published 'short list' by the Academy.
We are very interested in hearing your feedback or comments on this issue which is Not likely to be discussed or raised in any other forum but which we consider Very important!!
Following is her statement on the present situation and the omission of certain very important titles from the AMPAS 'short list' of this year's documentaries..
by Deborah Shaffer -
As an Academy Award-winning documentary director and member of the doc branch of AMPAS, I was the lucky recipient of all 149 qualified documentaries in 2013. It has certainly been one of the more bountiful and exciting years ever. I wish that, as with fiction features, we had the option to nominate up to 10 titles. There are certainly enough excellent, strong candidates to fill a slate of 10. But there is something about this year's short list that has made me sad and disappointed and I don't know whether the fault lies in the process or the end result, but it's certainly the latter where it shows up.
Among the qualified films this year were an incredibly strong number of docs on African American history and culture, including Let the Fire Burn, The Trials of Muhammad Ali, Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, Gideon's Army, The New Black, and American Promise. Not One Of These Films Is On The Short List despite having been recognized at numerous other festivals and year end award events. It suggests a distressing pattern of oversight, and even more disappointing since 4 of the above films were directed by Black women.
I don't have any quick or easy solutions about how to address this. We are all bemoaning the nearly impossible burden of watching approximately 150 documentaries, yet I don't think anyone wants to go back to the bad old committee system. Certainly continuing the trend to diversifying the branch membership across gender, age, and race should help. Personally I would also like to see a system where fewer films qualify, making it more possible for more members to screen those docs that do make it through the gate.
As it stands now, anyone with enough money to four wall a theatrical opening in New York and La can meet the qualifications, essentially buying their way into the Oscar pool. There should be a way to close this loophole, which I estimate would cut the numbers by at least one third to one half. Our field has grown so much in recent years, and the overall quality of the films that have made it to the short list is staggeringly high. We need to find a way to make sure we reward the best, and not just the best known.
- 12/18/2013
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
Above: Bill Siegel and Khalilah Camacho-Ali
Unlike other films about the controversial boxer, the recent documentary The Trials of Muhammad Ali makes no pretense of telling Ali’s whole story. It presumes that most of us in the audience already know it and those of us who don’t can easily fill in the gaps with the wealth of other movies, books, and TV specials devoted to his legend. Produced by Chicago-based documentary company Kartemquin Films, Trials focuses on Ali’s conversion to the Nation of Islam and the controversies associated with his religious and political convictions. These subjects are addressed in Michael Mann’s Ali (2001) and referenced in other documentaries about him, but Trials examines them in greater depth, generally neglecting his athletic achievements to better focus on his radicalism.
We took some time to speak with the film’s director, Bill Siegel, whose first film was Kartemquin-produced The Weather Underground...
Unlike other films about the controversial boxer, the recent documentary The Trials of Muhammad Ali makes no pretense of telling Ali’s whole story. It presumes that most of us in the audience already know it and those of us who don’t can easily fill in the gaps with the wealth of other movies, books, and TV specials devoted to his legend. Produced by Chicago-based documentary company Kartemquin Films, Trials focuses on Ali’s conversion to the Nation of Islam and the controversies associated with his religious and political convictions. These subjects are addressed in Michael Mann’s Ali (2001) and referenced in other documentaries about him, but Trials examines them in greater depth, generally neglecting his athletic achievements to better focus on his radicalism.
We took some time to speak with the film’s director, Bill Siegel, whose first film was Kartemquin-produced The Weather Underground...
- 12/17/2013
- by Ben and Kathleen Sachs
- MUBI
Documentaries have come a long way in the past 20 years, especially in the last decade. Documentary film has developed into a popular and visible form of entertainment, while having a bigger effect on society, usually addressing important issues with the goal of informing the public and pushing for social change. Ten years ago, it was more difficult to name 10 “great” documentaries released in one single year. Oh, how times have changed. There are so many incredible docs released each year – most never released wide – that it is impossible to catch up with each – but we try our best here at Sound On Sight. The following is a list of recent documentaries recommended most by our staff. It was hard to choose between the many great docs released this year, but we decided to narrow it down to a list of 10, based on what received the most votes from our end-year...
- 12/17/2013
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Jehane Noujaim's "The Square" edged out Joshua Oppenheimer's "The Act of Killing" to emerge as the big winner of the 2013 Ida Documentary Awards! The documentary about the 2011 Egyptian Revolution also beat Jason Osder's "Let the Fire Burn," Gabriela Cowperthwaite's "Blackfish," and Sarah Polley's Stories We Tell" for the prize.
Here's a full list of winners of the 2013 Ida Documentary Awards:
Best Feature Award
The Square
Director: Jehane Noujaim
Producer: Karim Amer; Executive Producers: Geralyn Dreyfous, Mike Lerner, Sarah Johnson, Jodie Evans, Lekha Singh, Gavin Dougan, Dan Catullo III, Lisa Nishimura, Adam Del Deo, Khalil Noujaim, Alexandra Johnes, Jeff Skol; Noujaim Films, Netflix Originals
Best Short Award
Slomo
Director: Josh Izenberg; Producer: Amanda Micheli; Executive Producer: Neil Izenberg; Big Young Films, Runaway Films
Best Limited Series Award
Inside Man
Producers: Kristen Vaurio, Lisa Kalikow, Shannon Gibson, Suzanne Hillinger, Lara Benario; Writers: Jeremy Chilnick, Morgan Spurlock; Executive Producers: Jeremy Chilnick,...
Here's a full list of winners of the 2013 Ida Documentary Awards:
Best Feature Award
The Square
Director: Jehane Noujaim
Producer: Karim Amer; Executive Producers: Geralyn Dreyfous, Mike Lerner, Sarah Johnson, Jodie Evans, Lekha Singh, Gavin Dougan, Dan Catullo III, Lisa Nishimura, Adam Del Deo, Khalil Noujaim, Alexandra Johnes, Jeff Skol; Noujaim Films, Netflix Originals
Best Short Award
Slomo
Director: Josh Izenberg; Producer: Amanda Micheli; Executive Producer: Neil Izenberg; Big Young Films, Runaway Films
Best Limited Series Award
Inside Man
Producers: Kristen Vaurio, Lisa Kalikow, Shannon Gibson, Suzanne Hillinger, Lara Benario; Writers: Jeremy Chilnick, Morgan Spurlock; Executive Producers: Jeremy Chilnick,...
- 12/8/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
This is a tough awards season! Lots of great movies to see, so little time! I'm catching up like crazy before we vote for the Critics' Choice Movie Awards for the Broadcast Film Critics Association. So I apologize if I haven't updated you with the latest on the awards season 2013-2014! And there were many award-giving bodies announcing nominations.
We already told you about the Rome Film Festival and the Film Independent Spirit Awards, now let's talk about the 2013 Gotham Awards, the Ida Documentary Awards, the Cinema Eye, and the Producers Guild announcing its best documentary choices.
First stop, we have the 2013 Gotham Awards where Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" topped the nominations with three nods including best feature, best actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor and breakthrough actor for Lupita Nyong'o.
Winners will be announced on Dec. 2nd where Richard Linklater, Forest Whitaker, and Katherine Oliver (head of the NYC...
We already told you about the Rome Film Festival and the Film Independent Spirit Awards, now let's talk about the 2013 Gotham Awards, the Ida Documentary Awards, the Cinema Eye, and the Producers Guild announcing its best documentary choices.
First stop, we have the 2013 Gotham Awards where Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" topped the nominations with three nods including best feature, best actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor and breakthrough actor for Lupita Nyong'o.
Winners will be announced on Dec. 2nd where Richard Linklater, Forest Whitaker, and Katherine Oliver (head of the NYC...
- 12/2/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The awards winners for the 26th Idfa were announced in Amsterdam on Friday night.
Song from the Forest by Germany’s Michael Obert won the main prize at Idfa (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam) tonight (Nov 29).
The film won the Vpro Idfa Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary, worth €12,500.
The film tells the story of American Louis Sarno, who has lived for 25 years with a tribe of Pygmies in the jungle of Central Africa and decides to take his son to the Us for the first time.
The Special Jury Award went to A Letter to Nelson Mandela by Khalo Matabane (South Africa / Germany), in which the filmmaker takes a critical look at Nelson Mandela, his status and role in the reforms that took place in South Africa in the 1990s.
Twin Sisters by Mona Friis Bertheussen won the BankGiro Loterij Idfa Audience Award.
The Russian collective Gogol’s Wives Productions won the Ntr Idfa Award for Best Mid-Length...
Song from the Forest by Germany’s Michael Obert won the main prize at Idfa (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam) tonight (Nov 29).
The film won the Vpro Idfa Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary, worth €12,500.
The film tells the story of American Louis Sarno, who has lived for 25 years with a tribe of Pygmies in the jungle of Central Africa and decides to take his son to the Us for the first time.
The Special Jury Award went to A Letter to Nelson Mandela by Khalo Matabane (South Africa / Germany), in which the filmmaker takes a critical look at Nelson Mandela, his status and role in the reforms that took place in South Africa in the 1990s.
Twin Sisters by Mona Friis Bertheussen won the BankGiro Loterij Idfa Audience Award.
The Russian collective Gogol’s Wives Productions won the Ntr Idfa Award for Best Mid-Length...
- 11/29/2013
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
Chicago’s Kartemquin Films has licensed all international rights on American Arab to New York-based Cargo Film & Releasing.
Chicago’s Kartemquin Films has licensed all international rights on American Arab to New York-based Cargo Film & Releasing.
The deal follows hot on the heels of American Arab’s world premiere at Idfa 2013 (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam).
Iraqi-born director Usama Alshaibi’s film takes a personal look at the complexities of Arab identity in post-9/11 America.
Cargo’s David Piperni negotiated the deal with Kartemquin’s Gordon Quinn, Justine Nagan and Alshaibi.
American Arab is one of three Kartemquin documentaries to screen at Idfa alongside Almost There and The Trials Of Muhammad Ali.
Chicago’s Kartemquin Films has licensed all international rights on American Arab to New York-based Cargo Film & Releasing.
The deal follows hot on the heels of American Arab’s world premiere at Idfa 2013 (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam).
Iraqi-born director Usama Alshaibi’s film takes a personal look at the complexities of Arab identity in post-9/11 America.
Cargo’s David Piperni negotiated the deal with Kartemquin’s Gordon Quinn, Justine Nagan and Alshaibi.
American Arab is one of three Kartemquin documentaries to screen at Idfa alongside Almost There and The Trials Of Muhammad Ali.
- 11/27/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Playing in limited release right now is the rather excellent documentary, "The Trials Of Muhammad Ali" (our review), which gives a fascinating, in depth look at the legal battles the fighter faced, including his highly publicized decision to claim conscientious objector status when drafted for the Vietnam War. It was a position that seriously threatened his livelihood, and made him an easy target from all sides; the true story itself is hugely dramatic and compelling. But if you'd rather see a movie with actors telling the tale, well, there's "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight." The Stephen Frears film follows Ali’s trial following his arrest for anti-Vietnam sentiments, and the battle that ensued of his legal right (or not) to claim that he was a Co. At the time, one could decline from the war citing religious reasons — as Ali did — but there were many thorny ways to interpret that broad definition.
- 8/27/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
"In the '60s and '70s, he was the most recognizable face in the world. We created a symbol. Muhammad Ali has long since been supplanted by what we believe he is. There's so many ways of looking at him that have only to do with us, and have nothing to do with him," New York Times writer Robert Lipsyte sagely observes in "The Trials Of Muhammad Ali." Far more than a boxer, Olympian, Muslim and father, it wouldn't be a stretch to call him the eighth wonder of the world, a distinction that his daughter Hana Ali half-jokingly admits would love to see bestowed on him. There have been countless films and documentaries about the man who was born Cassius Clay, but Bill Siegel's "The Trials Of Muhammad Ali" is a wholly illuminating look at Muhammad Ali in all his complexity, providing a surprisingly fresh and vivid...
- 8/22/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Kino Lorber executives announced on Wednesday [24] the acquisition of North American rights to Kartemquin Films’ documentary The Trials of Muhammad Ali.
The film premiered at Tribeca earlier this year and will open at the IFC Center in NYC on Aug 23 followed by nationwide roll-out.
The Trials Of Muhammad Ali documents Ali’s life outside boxing, including his relationship with Islam and his stance on Vietnam.
The film includes archive footage of Ali and interviews with figures such as Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad.
Bill Siegel directed and Rachel Pikelny produced. Leon Gast, Gordon Quinn, Justine Nagan and Kat White served as executive producers.
Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon brokered the deal with Cinetic Media.
The film premiered at Tribeca earlier this year and will open at the IFC Center in NYC on Aug 23 followed by nationwide roll-out.
The Trials Of Muhammad Ali documents Ali’s life outside boxing, including his relationship with Islam and his stance on Vietnam.
The film includes archive footage of Ali and interviews with figures such as Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad.
Bill Siegel directed and Rachel Pikelny produced. Leon Gast, Gordon Quinn, Justine Nagan and Kat White served as executive producers.
Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon brokered the deal with Cinetic Media.
- 7/24/2013
- ScreenDaily
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