Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

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The Seventh Tribeca Film Festival will be held April 23, 2008 to May 4, 2008 in New York City. I was excited to read that they’ve made some changes to improve the festival-goers experience. You may recall that last year we attended the festival and blogged about how challenging it was to get to everything.

TFF announced that it will make the 2008 Festival more accessible by creating dual Festival “hubs,” by offering special ticket packages and passes for the public, and featuring new ticket pricing. Tickets for the Festival will be $15.00 for evening and weekend screenings and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings. In addition, the Festival will offer a few select screenings with panel discussions for $25.00.

The Festival will centralize its screening, event and hospitality venues with lower Manhattan and the Union Square area serving as the Festival “hubs.” Lower Manhattan, the heart of the Festival, will host the Festival’s free public events, including the Tribeca Drive-In at the World Financial Center and the Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair on Greenwich Street, as well as an array of screenings, panel discussions and gala premieres at BMCC TribecaPAC, Pace University and Tribeca Cinemas. Union Square will be home to three Festival multiplex theaters – AMC Village VII (11th Street and 3rd Avenue), AMC 19th St. (19th Street and Broadway) and City Cinemas Village East (12th Street and 2nd Avenue) as well as the Filmmaker Industry Press Lounge. These theaters will host premieres and screenings.

The Festival has created six new feature film ticket packages which offer a discount on tickets and allow consumers the ability to navigate the film slate by interest. In addition to the new packages, the Festival will again offer two advance ticket selection packages and an all access Festival pass.

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World Narrative Feature Competition

57,000 Kilometers Between Us (57000 km entre nous), directed by Delphine Kreuter, written by Mathieu Lis, Emmanuel Finkiel and Kreuter. (France) - North American Premiere. A provocative yet charming take on digital communication, this debut follows a teenager caught between her stepdad (who records and posts the family’s supposedly perfect life online), her real father (now a transsexual), and the refuge of her own online life as she searches for meaningful connections with others. French with English subtitles.

The Aquarium (Genenet al Asmak), directed by Yousry Nasrallah, written by Nasser Abdel-Rahman and Nasrallah. (Egypt, France, Germany) - North American Premiere. An anesthetist who listens to his patients mumbling under sedation and a late night talk show host (Hend Sabri) whose callers reveal secrets are the yearning principals of this intriguing new work, an ambitious examination of repression—both sexual and political—in Cairo today. Arabic with English subtitles.

Eden, directed by Declan Recks, written by Eugene O’Brien. (Ireland) - International Premiere. Taking a frank look at the slow disintegration of a marriage during the week before a couple’s 10th anniversary, Recks catapults an intimate story from O’Brien’s award-winning play onto the big screen while only enhancing its emotional impact.

Let The Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in), directed by Tomas Alfredson, written by John Ajvide Lindqvist. (Sweden) - North American Premiere. Based on Lindqvist’s best-selling novel, this beautifully touching tale tells of the first romance for bullied 12-year-old Oskar and the girl next door, Eli. . . who also happens to be a vampire. Swedish with English subtitles. A Magnet Release.

Lost•Indulgence, directed and written by Zhang Yibai. (China) - International Premiere. A visually stunning meditation on loss, Lost·Indulgence centers on the complicated relationships between a teenage son, his mother, and the secretive young woman they take into their home after a tragic accident. Mandarin with English subtitles.

Love, Pain and Vice Versa (Amor, dolor y viceversa), directed by Alfonso Pineda-Ulloa, written by Alex Marino. (Mexico) - World Premiere. This stirring and moody psychological thriller finds two strangers subconsciously linked when their recurring dreams begin to topple their reality. Featuring strong performances by the sizzling Bárbara Mori (La mujer de mi hermano) and Leonardo Sbaraglia (Intacto). Spanish with English subtitles. A Panamax Films Release.

My Marlon and Brando (Gitmek), directed and written by Hüseyin Karabey. (Turkey) - North American Premiere. They fell in love on a film set—but she’s a Turk living in Istanbul and he’s a Kurd living in Iraq, which US forces have just invaded. The lovers play themselves in this captivating, heartbreaking film, based on their own true story. English, Kurdish, Turkish with English subtitles.

Newcastle, directed and written by Dan Castle. (Australia) - World Premiere. Revolving around Jesse, a 17-year-old surfer who treads the line between success and self-destruction, Newcastle saturates the senses with magnificent surfing footage and absorbs viewers in the fresh loves and personal tragedies of Jesse and his mates.

Quiet Chaos (Caos calmo), directed by Antonello Grimaldi, written by Nanni Moretti, Laura Paolucci and Francesco Piccolo. (Italy) - North American Premiere. “How to grieve” is the unexpressed question faced by Pietro, a Rome television executive (Nanni Moretti), after his wife’s sudden death. This movingly understated film traces his spiritual rebirth. Italian with English subtitles.

Ramchand Pakistani, directed by Mehreen Jabbar, written by Mohammad Ahmed. (Pakistan) - World Premiere. Gorgeous colors enhance this tense tale, based on actual events, about a young Pakistani boy who, with his father, inadvertently crosses the border into India. Both wind up in jail for years, while mother (Nandita Das) is left bewildered and alone. Urdu with English subtitles.

Somers Town, directed by Shane Meadows, written by Paul Fraser. (UK) - North American Premiere. A charming comedy by Shane Meadows (This Is England) built around the unlikely friendship between Tomo, who’s turned 16 and fled to London from a difficult life in the Midlands, and Marek, a Polish immigrant who lives with his construction worker dad. English, Polish with English subtitles.

Trucker, directed and written by James Mottern. (USA) - World Premiere. Michelle Monaghan is riveting as a tough-talking, devil-may-care truck driver who is faced with raising her estranged 11-year-old son after his father (Benjamin Bratt) is hospitalized. This eloquent and uplifting story also features Joey Lauren Adams and Nathan Fillion (Waitress).

World Documentary Feature Competition

Baghdad High, directed by Ivan O’Mahoney and Laura Winter. (UK) - International Premiere. Four classmates (Kurd, Christian, Shiite, and Sunni/Shiite) in Baghdad are given cameras to document their last year in high school, resulting in a rare firsthand view of what it’s like growing up where sectarian violence rages right outside the classroom window. Arabic with English subtitles.

Donkey in Lahore, directed by Faramarz K-Rahber. (Australia) - North American Premiere. An unusual love story that follows the quixotic courtship of Brian, an ex-goth puppeteer from Australia, and Amber, the traditional Muslim girl he met and fell in love with in Pakistan. Can this unlikely couple survive the challenges they are about to face? English, Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi with English subtitles.

Guest of Cindy Sherman, directed by Paul H-O and Tom Donahue. (USA) - World Premiere. Analyzing his relationship with reclusive artist Cindy Sherman leads videographer Paul H-O to confront his own ego and identity in this personal and often humorous documentary, which features unprecedented access to Sherman and a unique view of the New York art world.

Kassim the Dream, directed by Kief Davidson. (USA) - World Premiere. Kassim “The Dream” Ouma went from Ugandan child soldier to world champion boxer. In this gripping tale of survival and determination, Kassim proves that even against all odds, a man can achieve his dreams and turn tragedy into inspiration. Part of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival.

Milosevic on Trial (Slobodan Milosevic - Præsident under anklage), directed by Michael Christoffersen. (Denmark) - North American Premiere. Defending himself against widely credited charges of genocide before an international court in The Hague, Serbia’s former president proved frustratingly difficult to convict, as this riveting look at Milosevic and the chief prosecuting attorney attests. English, Albanian, Serbian with English subtitles.

My Life Inside (Mi vida dentro), directed by Lucía Gajá. (Mexico) - International Premiere. At 17, mild-mannered Rosa Jiménez came to the United States to provide a better life for her family back in Mexico. This riveting, heartbreaking film examines how she came to stand accused of murder in a Texas courtroom. English, Spanish with English subtitles.

Old Man Bebo, directed by Carlos Carcas. (Spain) - North American Premiere. Nearly 90, Bebo Valdes is one of the greatest living Cuban musicians. This joyful documentary celebrates the man who was a key figure in the development of mambo and whose life reflects the experiences of many Cubans since 1959. Spanish with English subtitles.

An Omar Broadway Film, directed by Omar Broadway and Douglas Tirola. (USA) - World Premiere. Using a contraband video camera inside the notorious gang unit at Newark’s Northern State Prison, incarcerated Bloods member Omar Broadway puts his life on the line to document guards’ corruption and excessive force. His groundbreaking footage exposes the violent and unseen world behind bars.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell, directed by Gini Reticker. (USA) - World Premiere. After more than a decade of civil wars leading to more than 250,000 deaths and one million refugees, a group of courageous women rose up to force peace on their shattered Liberia and propel to victory the first female head of state on the African continent.

Theater of War, directed by John Walter. (USA) - World Premiere. Art and politics converge in this provocative look at the life and ideas of Bertolt Brecht, interwoven with The Public Theater’s staging of his Mother Courage. Meryl Streep, Tony Kushner, Kevin Kline, and George C. Wolfe take audiences on an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at their creative process.

Two Mothers (Meine Mütter), directed by Rosa von Praunheim. (Germany) - North American Premiere. At age 58, award-winning filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim found out he was adopted. The search for his biological mother leads him—and the audience—on a dark and engrossing journey into a world of prison hospitals, the SS, and the Nazi occupation of Europe. English, German, Latvian with English subtitles.

War, Love, God & Madness, directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji. (UK, Iraq, Netherlands, Palestine, Sweden) - International Premiere. It’s no surprise that making a feature film in Iraq in 2003 wasn’t a picnic. But this extraordinary account of the peril-filled ordeal that the director and crew of Ahlaam went through must be seen to be believed. Arabic with English subtitles.

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BY CYNDI GREENING, ARIZONA, USA — Well, I got to serve as a juror for PBS’s online film festival. Festival jurying is a bit more challenging than I thought it would be. The preliminary rounds were done by PBS so we only got the final 20 (much like the Sundance jurors getting the final 16 in their category from the programmers). We had specific directions on what to look for … Innovation and Creative Risk! ITVS is committed to projects that are innovative in their use of the medium or are imaginative in the presentation of their content. Jurors are asked to consider innovation and creative risk not as mere aesthetic ends, but within the context of the Web as a powerful tool to engage, express, reflect and explore. We were asked to decide if the films inspired us, moved us, stuck with us. Last year’s PBS winners can be viewed, where else, online.

We are sworn to secrecy … unable to reveal our thoughts on our favorites until after the official announcement. What I am allowed to say is that there were some really interesting short films. Several were beautifully shot but a tad traditional. A few were really powerful AND innovative. I’m eager to hear what the other jurors thought. As a digital filmmaking instructor, I’m going to encourage people to enter this festival! There is a decent amount of prize money and several awards. The chances are pretty civilized.

The statistics on PBS/ITVS online submissions is as follows:

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The tenth annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival was held in North Carolina from April 12 through April 15. The winners of this year’s festival were announced! Many of the films were programmed at Sundance. We screened one of the films this morning, here at Tribeca. Another of the award winners is on our screening schedule for the weekend!

FULL FRAME GRAND JURY AWARD
The Monastery
Directed by Pernille Rose Grønkjær.
Produced by Sigrid Helene Dyekær.

FULL FRAME JURY AWARD FOR BEST SHORT
Cross Your Eyes Keep Them Wide
Directed and Produced by Ben Wu.Honorable Mention
Zo is dat (The Way It Is)
Directed by Elizabeth Salgado.
Produced by Frieder Wallis.

FULL FRAME AUDIENCE AWARD
War/Dance
Directed by Sean Fine, Andrea Nix Fine.
Produced by Albie Hecht.

CENTER FOR DOCUMENTARY STUDIES FILMMAKER AWARD
The Ants
Directed by Kaoru Ikeya.
Produced by Yoko Gon.

THE CHARLES E. GUGGENHEIM EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
The Monastery
Directed by Pernille Rose Grønkjær.
Produced by Sigrid Helene Dyekær

SEEDS OF WAR
Uganda Rising
Directed by Jesse James Miller, Pete McCormack.
Produced by Alison Lawton.
The Devil Came on Horseback
Directed by Annie Sundberg, Ricki Stern.
Produced by Annie Sundberg, Ricki Stern, Jane Wells, Gretchen Wallace.

FULL FRAME SPECTRUM AWARD
Banished
Directed by Marco Williams.
Produced by Two Tone Productions and Center for Investigative Reporting.

Honorable Mention
Leila Khaled, Hijacker
Directed by Lina Makboul. Produced by Robert Danielsson, Tussilago Productions, Sveriges Television.

FULL FRAME INSPIRATION AWARD
Forever
Directed by Heddy Honigmann.
Produced by Carmen Cobos.Honorable Mention
Lake of Fire
Directed and Produced by Tony Kaye.

FULL FRAME PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Lumo
Directed by Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Nelson Walker III.
Produced by Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, Nelson Walker III, Louis Ableman.
A P.O.V. Film.

FULL FRAME WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AWARD
Shame
Directed by Mohammed Naqvi.
Produced by Mohammed Naqvi, Jill Schneider.

THE KATHLEEN BRYAN EDWARDS AWARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
For the Bible Tells Me So
Directed and Produced by Daniel Karslake.

FULL FRAME/WORKING FILMS AWARD
The Devil Came on Horseback
Directed by Annie Sundberg, Ricki Stern.
Produced by Annie Sundberg, Ricki Stern, Jane Wells, Gretchen Wallace.

FULL FRAME/EMERGING PICTURES AUDIENCE AWARD
Angels in the Dust
Directed by Louise Hogarth.
Produced by James Egan, Louise Hogarth.
A Participant Production

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BY CYNDI GREENING, ARIZONA, USA – Every year I think I’m finally going to make it to FULL FRAME DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL. This year, it’s from April 12 – 15 and it’s the TENTH year! It always falls in that time of year that I have trouble getting away because it’s mid-semester (not to mention TAX TIME … and I never have my taxes done early AND it’s all the way across the country in Durham, North Carolina). I recall when FULL FRAME first appeared. It was the year following my first Sundance. It was a small festival then, serving a very small niche market … documentary lovers.

They were so far out in front of everyone else on this one! At Sundance this year, we went to several workshops at the House of Docs. Cara Mertes was talking about how popular documentary films have become and how Sundance is supporting the surging interest. Now, don’t get me wrong, docs have always been supported and popular at Sundance but, in the early days, it felt more like the rest of the festival supported the docs. Now, the docs are holding their own and even surpassing the features in some instances.

Several docs that screened at Sundance are on the Full Frame slate. Among them:

• BANISHED by Marco Williams
• CRAZY LOVE by Dan Klores
• THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK by Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern
• EVERYTHING’S COOL by Judith Helfand and Daniel Gold
• FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO by Daniel Karslake
• MANDA BALA (Send A Bullet) by Jason Kohn
• PROTAGONIST by Jessica Yu
• WAR/DANCE by Sean and Andrea Nix Fine
• WHITE LIGHT/BLACK RAIN by Steven Okazaki

I either saw several of these films or saw the filmmakers on the Panels. MANDA BALA won top awards at Sundance. I personally loved Okazaki’s film. I really wanted to see FOR THE BIBLE and WAR/DANCE. I liked Dan Klores previous film RING OF FIRE: THE EMILE GRIFFITH STORY. Alec and I both really loved that one.

There is a film at FULL FRAME that I am trying to imagine how they’re going to make it interesting … seriously. It’s called HELVETICA … it’s a film about a typeface. You know the film world is getting crazy when they can make a movie about type. Gary Hustwit has made a film about “graphic design and the global visual culture.” I want to see how he pulled this off!

A couple of other films that really caught my attention were THE KILLER WITHIN (about what happens when someone you know and love reveals himself to be a murderer) and ANGELS IN THE DUST (about a family-run orphanage serving children living with AIDS in South Africa).

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After five years at Sundance, programmer Roberta Munroe has put up a site letting us know that she is expanding her consulting business and offering some much sought after creative, development and marketing services to filmmakers.

She wants to help filmmakers realize their dreams. After watching over 10,000 shorts, several hundred features and making her own award winning short film (DANI AND ALICE - 2005), she can help make your film more successful.

According to Munroe, she can help in the following ways …

• Learn the most common mistakes filmmakers make and how to avoid them.
• Make a short that actually gets accepted into festivals.
• Don’t waste your money, time and energy — get your script as tight as possible before you shoot.
• Figure out the right length for your story and so much more.
  Whenever possible, get your rough cut critiqued by me before you lock picture.
• Strategize around which festivals to aim for before you spend hundreds of dollars on entry fees.

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BY JENIECE TORANZO MESA, ARIZONA— Director and screenwriter, Gina Kim, tells a story of a young woman (Sophie) played by Vera Farmiga, who is married to a wealthy Asian American (Andrew), played by David McInnis. Sophie has a difficult time getting pregnant and discovers how far she will go in order to have a child. In order to save her marriage, she begins a sexual relationship with an illegal immigrant from Korea (Jihah), played by Jung-woo Ha. Sophie then finds her true self while juggling between the two men, one that she loves and the other that she falls in love with. This movie was well shot and edited. The cinematography is just amazing along with the well thought out color scheme. The cast did such an amazing job in their performance in delivering a well scripted movie. You can feel the emotion and pain in each character as they learn to cope with the situations they are put in. I will let you know, for those who care, that this movie is based on a sexual relationship between Sophie and Jihah, which means, be prepared for a whole lotta sex happening. Overall, the storyline well thought out. The ending is controversial which makes it even more appealing. Be sure to check out the Q&A with the Director and some of the cast.

NEVER FOREVER   Post Screening Q&A

Podcast on Monday, February 12, 2007
Cast and Crew of NEVER FOREVER - Large - Direct download link
Cast and Crew of NEVER FOREVER - Small - Direct download link
Email

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BY NICK MARSHALL, GILBERT, AZ, USA - So you’ve got an idea. A good one. You’ve turned it into a film. Now you’re wondering how to get your film onto the film festival circuit. Well, instead of scrounging the internet for hours, clicking on billions of links that lead you astray, spend a minute reading this and afford yourself more time for those other good film ideas.

First, go get Chris Gore’s Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide. Today I frequented my local Borders to skim through this book (I had been hearing it was the be-all, end-all source for film festival information) and I planned on leafing through it casually and then going on my way to finish the rest of my errands for the day. It started off fine, glancing through casually, reading sections of interviews and “Top 10” lists. But oddly enough, I soon found myself seated in a comfy chair, enjoying the interviews with directors talking about their impressions and mistakes on different festivals and then found myself taking out my pocket notepad and jotting down notes. I really intended this to be a five minute escapade and twenty minutes later I got up and really did leave. Gore’s top 10 lists cover mistakes filmmakers make and what to do at film festivals, even how to effectively crash a party at a film festival. Morgan Spurlock (SUPERSIZE ME) talks about how he prepared for Sundance and Jared Hess (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE) also describes his experience with Sundance. The end of the book is filled with detailed info about all the major film festivals in North America. Gore also throws in cheap marketing tips for your film.

If books aren’t your thing, click over to WithoutA Box.com. Sign up for free and get information about all the upcoming film festivals. As a filmmaker, you can search by submission date, genre, location and dozens of other parameters. Without a Box makes it much easier to find the perfect festival for your film.

If you pay a cheap yearly fee, Without a Box will summit your film and press package to as many festivals as you want and you only have to fill out one entry form instead of hundreds. Watch the Demo to see what other services they provide. These two resources make getting on the film festival circuit much less exhausting. You can even see which festivals are going on and buy tickets to those festivals. The site is amazingly easy to navigate and useful.

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Silver Springs, Maryland (a lovely city in a beautiful part of the country) is the place to be this weekend if you’re a fan of documentary films. Now in it’s fourth year, the AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival presents six days of programming showcasing 100 feature-length and short films, plus special screenings. The Festival will take place June 13–18 at the AFI Silver Theatre just outside Washington, DC. SILVERDOCS provides business and creative connections between filmmakers, broadcasters, distributors, and funders from both established and emerging media markets at the concurrent International Documentary Conference, June 14-17.

Of great interest to me is the Celebrate South Africa! segment of the program; it’s a special program of new South African documentaries plus discussions featuring South African artists and a concert. In the Fall of 2005, SILVERDOCS organizers presented Festival highlights and a series of documentary film workshops to filmmakers in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa as part of a US Department of State cultural exchange program. Moved by the passion and talent of the South African filmmakers, and the diversity and richness of their stories, Festival organizers determined to create a special program celebrating the work of South African filmmakers. It sounds very similar to what we’re doing with FilmZambia!

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Several of the top awards at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival went to outstanding films that we saw at Sundance in January. There were a number of documentaries that debuted at Full Frame and were highly recognized as well. Prizes were awarded on Sunday, April 9, 2006 at the annual Awards Ceremony. The Festival presented awards in the following categories:

FULL FRAME GRAND JURY AWARD

Iraq in Fragments, Directed by James Longley and John Sinno. Cyndi’s Note: Screened at Sundance; amazing film; strongly recommended! Special Mention: A Lion in the House, Directed and Produced by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert. Cyndi’s Note: Screened at Sundance; yet another amazing film; also strongly recommended! $5,000 cash award and $20,000 in-kind for video-to-film transfer of the winning film or lab services. The Jury Award is chosen by a jury consisting of members of the national filmmaking community.

FULL FRAME AUDIENCE AWARD

The Trials of Darryl Hunt, Directed by Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg. Produced by Katie Brown, William Rexer II, Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg. An HBO Documentary Film. Cyndi’s Note: Screened at Sundance; recommended! $3,000. Provided by the Doc Arts Board of Directors. This award is chosen by calculating audience ballots filled out during the four-day Festival.

FULL FRAME JURY AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM

No Umbrella: Election Day in the City, Directed and Produced by Laura Paglin.$10,000 in film stock. Provided by Eastman Kodak. The Jury Award for Best Short is awarded to a film 40 minutes or less in length.

CENTER FOR DOCUMENTARY FILM STUDIES FILMMAKER AWARD

The Refugee All Stars, Directed and Produced by Zach Niles and Banker White. $7,500. Sponsored by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. The CDS Filmmaker Award recognizes documentary films that combine originality and creativity with firsthand experience in examining central issues of contemporary life and culture. In keeping with the Center’s mission, the award was created to honor and support documentary artists whose works are potential catalysts for education and change.

THE CHARLES E. GUGGENHEIM EMERGING ARTIST AWARD

I for India, Directed by Sandhya Suri. Produced by Carlo Cresto-Dina. Cyndi’s Note: Screened at Sundance; amazing film; strongly recommended! $2,000. Provided by the Charles E. Guggenheim Family. This annual prize is awarded to a first-time documentary feature filmmaker as a way to foster the work of new directors, young and old. It recognizes the extraordinary care that Charles Guggenheim took with filmmakers with whom he worked to mentor and counsel throughout the filmmaking process.

FULL FRAME/EMERGING PICTURES AUDIENCE AWARD

The Refugee All Stars, Directed and Produced by Zach Niles and Banker White. JVC GY-HD100U high-definition camcorder. Sponsored by JVC. A special audience award will be presented to the filmmaker whose work is selected by the members of the digital extension of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival being set up by Emerging Pictures and Full Frame in various locations around the country. Only feature and short films participating in this program are eligible for this award.

FULL FRAME INSPIRATION AWARD

My Country, My Country, Directed by Laura Poitras. Produced by Laura Poitras, Jocelyn Glatzer.
Honorable Mention: EXIT, Directed by Fernand Melgar. Produced by Florence Adams. $5,000. Sponsored by the Hartley Film Foundation. This new award is presented to a film that best exemplifies the value and relevance of world religions and spirituality.

FULL FRAME PRESIDENT’S AWARD

The Intimacy of Strangers, Directed by Eva Weber. Produced by Samantha Zarzosa. $5,000. Sponsored by Duke University. Aimed at recognizing up-and-coming filmmakers, this new prize is awarded to the best student film.

FULL FRAME WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AWARD

Smiling in a War Zone, Directed by Simone Aaberg Kaern, Magnus Bejmar. Produced by Helle Ulsteen. $5,000. Sponsored by the White House Project. This award will be given to the film that best portrays women in leadership.

FULL FRAME WORKING FILMS AWARD

Rain in a Dry Land, Directed and Produced by Anne Makepeace. A POV/ITVS Film. $5,000 cash award and $5,000 in-kind for the development of the film’s outreach plan. Sponsored by Working Films, with support from the Ettinger Foundation and the Tides Foundation. Sponsored by Working Films, the media non-profit that is a nationally recognized activist-driven bridge between high quality documentary filmmaking and concrete impact, this prize will be awarded to the film that has the greatest potential for supporting serious grassroots organizing and social change.

SEEDS OF WAR

Sir! No Sir!, Directed by Daniel Zeiger. Produced by Vangie Griego, Aaron Zarrow.
Workingman’s Death, Directed by Michael Glawogger. Produced by Erich Lackner, Miriam Quinte, Pepe Danquart. $5,000. Sponsored by Walter Mosley. Sparked by the worldwide wars — and the policies and cultural attitudes that continue to promote them — this award honors two filmmakers who lay bare the seeds and mechanisms that create war. There are two prizes awarded of $2,500.

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‘Wristcutters’ wows Gen Art Festival. Film Festivals: Fest Briefs — Helmer Goran Dukic’s “Wristcutters: A Love Story” won the top prize at the 11th annual Gen Art Film Festival in Gotham this week. Helmer received $10,000 prize as part of the honor. “Wristcutters” is a warped road-trip comedy starring Patrick Fugit. [Variety.com - Film Festivals]

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I am fond of saying that seeing films at the Sundance Film Festival gives you a pretty good idea of what you’re going to see for the upcoming year in independent film. The International Guadalajara film fest closed yesterday and several of the award-winning films were at Sundance.

During the 21st Annual Guadalajara Film Festival, two movies received the award for the best Film in the Ibero-American Fiction Feature Films Section — EL CUSTODIO by Rodrigo Moreno and CINEMA, ASPIRNAS E URUBAS by Brazilian Marcelo Gómes. Jury members of the Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film Section, decided to award the prize and $50,000 dollars to two “very different productions that illustrate the wide spectrum in the Ibero-American film production; two stories, apparently very different from each other, that explore man’s endless search for his identity and freedom, whether he lives in a city or the country, in the past or in the present times.” I don’t recall seeing either of these films at Sundance.

The jury members also determined to give a Special Nomination to the film MADEINUSA by Peruvian director Claudia Llosa. This film I saw and remember vividly! It was an amazingly beautiful film. Shot in a mountain village, the look of the film was rich and exotic. There was a powerful sense of altered time and place; we were all transported by this film. I also recall a man in the Sundance Press area commenting that MADEINUSA was “the find of the festival!” (Oddly disconcerting for me was how much the male lead resembled one of my students, Nick Marshall. It was a bit eerie.)

The prize for the best director was awarded to Isabel Coixet from Spain for her film LA VIDA SECRETA DE PALABRAS (The Secret Life of Words). Starring Tim Robbins and Sarah Polley, it’s the story of a woman who is trying to forget her past. She (Polley) is brought to an oil rig in the middle of the ocean to look after a man (Robbins) who has been temporarily blinded. A strange intimacy develops between them, a link full of secrets, truths, lies, humour and pain, from which neither of them will emerge unscathed and which will change their lives forever. Director Coixet says, “When you finish making a film, it’s always extremely difficult to talk about it. I feel that the words to describe what you’ve just done are never going to do justice to the adventures in which the actors, the crew and you have been involved.” Ironic for a film about words.

One of our favorite documentaries from Sundance 2006 was Juan Carlos Rulfo’s IN THE PIT (our videocast from Sundance). It was much recognized and honored in the festival. (Follow this link to a wonderful videocast of Rulfo recorded at Sundance). In the Ibero-American Documentary Feature Films Section Juan Carlos Rulfo with his film EN EL HOYO was unanimously selected first prize by the jury members. They said that the documentary recounting the construction of the second floor of the inner highway in Mexico City “made use of cinematography resources in a very creative way” and “was able to combine in an exemplary manner two languages: an epical account and an intimate vision of life that is treated with respect and affection”. Simultaneously, the journalists that recounted the Guadalajara International Film Festival gave the award Guerreros de la Prensa to the best Mexican films for Best Documentary to EN EL HOYO.

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I just got back from the screening of Julia Kwan’s EVE AND THE FIREHORSE at our very own Phoenix Film Festival. The theatre was fairly full and the audience seemed to enjoy the film.

Zambian filmmaker Jabbes Mvula joined us for the screening. It was interesting to discuss it with him afterwards. Like his film, the story was an exploration of a non-western culture. On the way to the film he said that he found American culture boring because everyone is always tired and works too much. He said the Zambian culture was rich and more interconnected. He said friends gather almost every day after work to talk and visit and dance. In the U.S., he said, even when he had time, friends were rarely free to spend time.

RING OF FIRE Feature

Last year at Sundance, Alec and I saw a powerful documentary entitled RING OF FIRE: The Emile Griffith Story. It was one of Alec’s favorite films of that year.

The documentary centers on a fatal fight in 1962. At Madison Square Garden, in a live broadcast, Emile Griffith punched rival Benny “Kid” Paret unconscious, leaving him in a coma. Paret died 10 days later. It was later revealed that Paret had called Griffith maricón, the Spanish word for “faggot.” Visit the website listed above to watch video clips from the documentary including comments by Griffith and the actual fight.

Variety is reporting that the documentary is being made into a feature. According to the trade publication, Columbia Pictures and Paramount Pictures have tapped George C. Wolfe to direct the feature version of the boxing-centered doc “Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story.”

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The 2006 Tribeca Film Festival announced the line-up for its Short Film Competitions. The program includes 76 shorts selected from among 2,150 submissions. Appearing in this year’s short narrative films are actors David Straitharn, Henry Winkler, Sandra Bernhardt, and Jeffrey Tambor. Documentary subjects include Don Cheadle, Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint and Roseanne Cash.

Shorts in Competition - Narrative

This year the Narrative Shorts program includes international films from 15 counties, such as Chile, South Korea and Egypt. It also features works directed by New York music icon Laurie Anderson and actors Adrian Grenier and Melissa Joan Hart.

• Afraid So, directed by Jay Rosenblatt, written by Jeanne Marie Beaumont (U.S.A.)
• After June, directed by Michael Civille, written by Matthew Haberman (U.S.A.)
• Alone at Last, directed and written by David Shuff (U.S.A.)
• Attention (Intabih), directed and written by Akram Agha (Saudi Arabia)
• Between 2 Houses (Tussen 2 Huizen), directed by Clara van Gool (Netherlands)
• Blackberries, directed and written by Nicolas Panoutsopoulos (U.S.A)
• The Booth, directed by Gabriela Yepes, written by Yepes and Kristin Tucker (U.S.A.)
• Carla Cope, directed and written by Aileen McCormack (U.S.A.)
• Dilemma, directed and written by Boris Paval Conen (Netherlands)
• Errata, directed by Alexander Stewart (U.S.A.)
• Euthanasia, directed by Adrian Grenier (U.S.A.)
• The Falling Man, directed and written by Kevin Ackerman (U.S.A.)
• Flow, directed and written by Scott Nyerges (U.S.A.)
• Garden of Eden, revisited (Hof van Eden, revisited), directed and written by Titia Reiter (Netherlands)
• Hidden Inside Mountains, directed and written by Laurie Anderson (U.S.A.)
• I Did Not Expect You (Non ti aspettavo), directed by Barbara Rossi Prudente
• Jane Lloyd, directed and written by HAPPY (U.S.A., U.K.)
• K-7, directed and written by Christopher Leone (U.S.A.)
• King of Central Park, directed by Max Winkler and David Gelb (U.S.A.)
• Longtime Listener, directed by Keven Undergaro and Maria Menounos, written by Undergaro (U.S.A.)
• Lure, directed and written by Mark Mollenkamp (U.S.A.)
• Marion, directed by Ry Russo-Young (U.S.A.)
• Mute, directed by Melissa Joan Hart, written by Kristin Lipiro (U.S.A.)
• Octave, directed by Emily Hubley (U.S.A.)
• The Offshore Reserves, directed and written by Jamie Bradshaw and Alexander Doulerain (Russia)
• Out of the Woods, directed and written by Samuel Dowe-Sandes (U.S.A.)
• The Package, directed and written by Brad Spencer (U.S.A.)
• Paradox, directed and written by Jeremy Haccoun (U.K.)
• Piece of Cake, directed and written by Cynthia Boorujy (U.S.A.)
• The Secret Language (Teanga Runda), directed and written by Brian Durnin (Ireland)
• Shiner, directed and written by Mike Doyle (U.S.A.)
• The Shovel, directed and written Nick Childs (U.S.A.)
• Spanish Boots, directed and written by Domenica Cameron-Scorsese (U.S.A.)
• The Temptation of Victoria, directed by Michael Shamberg (U.S.A. and France)
• Today 30 November, directed by Mahmood Soliman (Egypt)
• Topor and me (Topor et moi), directed by Sylvia Kristel, written by Ruud Den Dryver (Netherlands)
• Torte Bluma, directed by Benjamin Ross, written by Barry Langford (U.S.A.)
• Wedlock, directed by Chris Callahan (U.S.A.)
• Who cares how long the batteries last? (¿Qué importa cuánto duran las pilas?), directed by Gustavo Rondón Córdova, written by Rafael Velásquez (Venezuela)
• Women Workers Leaving the Factory (Obreras Saliendo de la Fabrica), directed and written by José Luis Torres (Chile)

Shorts in Competition - Documentary

The Documentary Shorts program reflects real-life drama, from Don Cheadle’s family trip to Africa in Journey Into Sunset, to Roseanne Cash’s recollections of family and music in Marines and Musicians.

• A Long Struggle, directed by Lea Rekow, written by Matthew Phillip (U.S.A.)
• Dear Talula, directed by Lori Benson (U.S.A.)
• I’m Charlie Chaplin, directed by Jay Rosenblatt (U.S.A.)
• Ideas of Order in Cinque Terre, directed by Ken Kobland (U.S.A.)
• Inside Out, directed and written by Zohreh Shayesteh (Iran)
• The Highwater Trilogy, directed by Bill Morrison (U.S.A.)
• Journey Into Sunset, directed by Rick Wilkinson (U.S.A.)
• Mariners and Musicians, directed by Steven Lippman (U.S.A.)
• My Empire, directed by Ted Ciesielski (U.S.A.)
• Native New Yorker, directed and written by Steve Bilich (U.S.A.)
• Never Like the First Time! (Aldrig som forsta gangen!), directed by Jonas Odell (Sweden)
• Offside (Nivdal), directed and written by Daniel Sivan and Dorit Tadir (Israel)
• Prom Date, directed by Poull Brien (U.S.A.)
• Putting the River in Reverse, directed by Matthew Buzzell (U.S.A.)
• Roads of Kiarostami, directed by Abbas Kiarostami (Iran, South Korea)
• SARS, A Love Story, directed and written by Mathieu Borysevicz (U.S.A., China)
• She Rhymes Like A Girl, directed by JT Takagi (U.S.A.)
• Swan’s Island, directed by Bill Brand and Katy Martin (U.S.A.)
• The Tribe, directed by Tiffany Shlain, written by Shlain and Ken Goldberg (U.S.A.)

Shorts in Competition - Student

Student shorts in competition represent projects from the leading film schools in the United States as well as international film programs in Israel, Mexico, South Korea, and Australia. Creative storytelling characterizes these works from talented emerging filmmakers.

• Chicxulub, directed and written by Malona P. Voigt (U.S.A.)
• Dead End Job, directed and written by Samantha Davidson Green (U.S.A.)
• The Debt, directed and written by Levan Koguashvili (U.S.A.)
• Duncan Removed, directed and written by Peter Livolsi and Matthew Schaefer (U.S.A.)
• In a Single Bound, a documentary, directed and written by Ross Marroso (U.S.A.)
• Interview, directed by Boyoung Lee (South Korea)
• Kite Circuit, directed and written by Austin Andrews (Australia)
• Night Visions, a documentary, directed by Kathy Huang (U.S.A.)
• Orange Bow, directed and written by Dee Rees (U.S.A.)
• Playing the News, a documentary, directed by Jeff Plunkett and Jigar Mehta (U.S.A.)
• The Projectionist (Dian Ying Fang Ying Yuan), directed and written by Elaine Liu (U.S.A.)
• Recalled, directed and written by Michael Connors (U.S.A.)
• Shelter, directed and written by Luke Hutton (U.S.A., Canada)
• The Substitute (Hayelet Bodeda), directed by Tayla Lavie, written by Lavie and Oded Binnun (Israel)
• Twenty Dollar Drinks, directed and written by David Brind (U.S.A.)
• Under the Rubble (Bajo los Escombros), directed by Carlos Davila Yeo (Mexico)
• Walk on a Little More, directed and written by Minyoung Shim (South Korea)

Synopses, cast and crew credits and press contacts for the short films announced can be viewed in the press section of the Tribeca Film Festival website www.tribecafilmfestival.org

Tribeca Announces Showcase & Restored

The 2006 Tribeca Film Festival announced the films to be featured in their Showcase While they are new to NY, these films have been highlights of other festivals.

Akeelah and the Bee, directed and written by Doug Atchison (U.S.A.) - New York Premiere. A Lionsgate Release. Akeelah is a precocious 11-year-old from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite her mother’s objections, she enters several spelling contests, and with the support of a special tutor and the entire neighborhood, she earns a spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This uplifting film stars Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Curtis Armstrong, and Keke Palmer.

Al Franken: God Spoke, a documentary directed by Christine Hegedus and Nick Doob (U.S.A.) - New York Premiere. This hilarious doc about one man’s unceasing battle against the Right tracks Al Franken’s transformation from mild-mannered comedy writer to full-on political player. Featuring appearances by Ann Coulter, Michael Moore, Al Gore, John Kerry, and Henry Kissinger.

Black Sun, a documentary directed by Gary Tarn (U.K.) - New York Premiere. Where there is no vision, does the artist perish? In this haunting, original first-person narrative, NYC-based French painter and filmmaker Hugues de Montalembert, who lost his sight after a mugger threw paint thinner in his eyes, narrates his journey into sudden blindness and out of despair, as composer-turned-filmmaker Gary Tarn’s mesmerizing web of sounds and images recreates the world from his point of view.

Brothers of the Head, directed by Louis Pepe and Keith Fulton, written by Tony Grisoni (U.K.) - New York Premiere. An IFC Release. London, 1975. Conjoined twins with a creepy, crypto-erotic bond take the burgeoning glam/punk scene by storm in this eerie mockumentary-style adaptation of Brian Aldiss’ novel. Luke and Harry Treadway deliver searing performances as two very different parts of one fatally compromised whole, and the film and its music will stick with you for days.

Close to Home (Karov La Bayit), directed and written by Dalia Hager and Vidi Bilu (Israel) - New York Premiere. In this critically acclaimed study of Israeli women and compulsory military service, two diametrically opposed women are thrown together on patrol in Jerusalem: Mirit is respectful of her military superiors, while Smadar barely conceals her desires for rebellion. When a bomb explodes, the two reconcile their differences, and a tenuous friendship is forged.

Eden, directed and written by Michael Hofmann (Germany) - North American Premiere. In this charming culinary comedy, Gregor is a distinguished chef who specializes in aphrodisiac dishes but can’t seem to work his sensual magic on women. When the portly chef meets the delectable but married Eve, he gets a taste of true love. But can their shared gastronomical passions turn into something more substantial?

Hanging Garden (Kuutyuu Teien), directed and written by Toshiaki Toyoda (Japan) - New York Premiere. Meet the Kyobashis, a model suburban Japanese family. Or are they? In director Toshiaki Toyoda’s skillful examination of contemporary domestic malaise, a mother’s plan for the perfect family initially seems to be working, but we soon learn that her perceived perfection is a lie that each family member chooses to believe at the expense of reality.

The Heart of the Game, a documentary directed and written by Ward Serrill (U.S.A.) - New York Premiere. A Miramax Release. In the tradition of Hoop Dreams, this heart-pounding documentary about girls, race, and basketball follows a talented if occasionally self-destructive teenage star and her coach over the course of six years as she, her team, and her coach suffer crushing defeats and soaring victories on and off the court.

Kill Gil (Volume 1), a documentary directed by Gil Rossellini (Italy) - New York Premiere. Gil Rossellini (son of Italian filmmaker Roberto and brother of actress Isabella) documents his battle with a rare and devastating bacterial infection, which made him a paraplegic. Shot in a charmingly low-tech, off-the-cuff manner, Kill Gil (Volume 1) conveys a tremendous sense of hope and perseverance, while avoiding pat feelings of pity and morbidity. In English.

loudQUIETloud, a documentary directed by Steven Cantor and Matthew Galkin (U.S.A.) - New York Premiere. The Pixies reunite 12 years after their inauspicious split and set out to re-conquer the world, and their own demons. This dazzling concert doc eschews rock-god clichés and goes straight to the heart of four people who need music-and one another-more than they ever knew.

Madeinusa, directed and written by Claudia Llosa (Peru, Spain) - New York Premiere. The title heroine of this stunning debut work lives in a remote Andean village where, every Easter weekend, the villagers live sinfully without fear of celestial reprisal. When our ostensible hero blows into town from the big city and meets the heroine, what could spin into a classic fairy-tale takes a surreal, satisfying turn. I saw this film at Sundance in January 2006 and it was extraordinary!

The Sacred Family (La Sagrada Familia), directed and written by Sebastián Campos (Chile) - New York Premiere. In this keenly observed debut feature, architecture student Marco brings Sofia, his new and impulsive girlfriend, home to meet his parents over Easter weekend. Sofia’s flirtatious, manipulative ways soon crack the veneer of Marco’s bourgeois family, turning the entire household upside-down.

The Shutka Book of Records, a documentary directed by Aleksandar Manic (Serbia and Montenegro) - New York Premiere. In the Balkan town of Shutka, the Romani (Gypsy) population is thriving and everyone is considered a champion at something. This droll film introduces us to a variety of Shutka’s colorful, comically self-assured champions, from the boxer and the lovemaker to the grave robber and the vampire hunter.

Sound of the Soul, a documentary directed by Stephen Olsson (U.S.A.) - New York Premiere. In a world where religions often drive people apart, Sound of the Soul offers a joyfully welcome reminder that spirituality can also bring us together. The film explores Morocco’s historic heritage of tolerance, and showcases a stunning array of brilliant musicians at the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, whose profound expressions of love and longing are unforgettable.

Taking Father Home (Bei Ya Zi De Nan Hai), directed by Ying Liang, written by Ying Liang and Peng Shan (China) - New York Premiere. Filled with bitterness and a thirst for revenge, a 17-year-old boy leaves his rural Chinese village to seek out the father who abandoned him 6 years earlier. But once the boy arrives in the big city of Zigong, the long-awaited encounter with his father leads him to make a dramatic decision. In Mandarin.

Viva Zapatero!, a documentary directed and written by Sabina Guzzanti (Italy) - New York Premiere. When Italian comedienne Guzzanti’s satirical TV show was canceled after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s media corporation filed a 20-million-euro lawsuit, she got serious, sort of. Following in the footsteps of Michael Moore (only far more talented at imitating her target), Guzzanti exposes the seedy underbelly of Berlusconi’s Right-wing regime in this viciously funny work.

Wah-Wah directed and written by Richard E. Grant (U.K.) - New York Premiere. A Roadside Attractions Release. Partially based on childhood of this first-time director (and well-known actor) in British-controlled Swaziland, Wah-Wah paints a picture of colonialism on the wane and frames it with the story of a boy’s awakening to the wider world. Starring Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson, and Emily Watson.

Word Play, a documentary directed by Patrick Creadon (U.S.A.) - New York Premiere. An IFC Release. Tag along with Will Shortz, the legendary crossword editor of the New York Times, as he and his fellow word enthusiasts construct the newspaper’s brainteasers and the annual American Crossword Tournament, which Shortz founded. Also featuring interviews with crossword-puzzle devotees Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Jon Stewart, Ken Burns, the Indigo Girls, and others. Co-presented by the New York Times.

The Restored/Rediscovered films at Tribeca 2006 include:

Barren Lives (Vidas Secas), directed and written by Nelson Pereira dos Santos (Brazil, 1963). A newly-struck copy of a classic early film by Pereira dos Santos, whose Brasilia 18% is premiering at the Festival. Adapted from a novel by Graciliano Ramos, the film follows a ranch hand and his family, who are forced off their land in the early 40’s by a severe drought and social injustice, and head off in search of work and a better life.

Big Combo, directed by Joseph H. Lewis, written by Philip Yordan (U.S.A., 1955) - World Premiere Restoration. The UCLA Film & Television Archive’s new restoration of this memorably nasty film noir is especially good news since it was shot by the master of noir lighting, John Alton, and the prints available in recent years didn’t do justice to his art. Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte, Brian Donlevy, and Lee Van Cleef give standout performances in this cult classic.
Burning Patience (Ardiente Paciencia), directed and written by Antonio Skármeta (Portugal and Germany, 1983) - North American Premiere Revival. A postman’s life is forever changed when Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean poet and diplomat, is exiled to the postman’s remote village. Writer/director Skarmeta’s charming, sexy, and largely overlooked film was the original screen adaptation of his own popular novella, which was also the basis for the 1994 film, Il Postino. In Spanish

Fair Wind to Java, directed by Joseph Kane, written by Richard Tregaskis (U.S.A.) World Premiere Restoration. This 1953 South Seas adventure, starring Fred MacMurray and Vera Ralston, is the essence of Republic Pictures’ “B” movie style, and it’s been lovingly restored to its TruColor glory by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Climaxing with a volcanic explosion that must be seen to be disbelieved, it’s the ultimate Saturday matinee experience. Introduced by Martin Scorsese.

On the Bowery, directed by Lionel Rogosin, written by Richard Bagley and Lionel Rogosin (U.S.A., 1957). World Premiere Restoration. On the heels of its lovely restoration of Lionel Rogosin’s Come Back, Africa (1960), which premiered at TFF last year, the Cineteca di Bologna has just finished restoring Rogosin’s first film, the Oscar©-nominated documentary about the harsh and often shocking realities of life on what in the ’50s was New York’s Skid Row.
Prix de Beauté, directed by Augusto Genina, written by René Clair and G.W. Pabst (France). As her final starring role, the legendary Louise Brooks plays a typist who wins a beauty contest in this French-shot feature. We are screening the rare silent version, which is somewhat different from the sound version that is usually shown. Preceded by Giovani Pastrone’s one-reeler, The Fall of Troy (1911). Both films with live piano accompaniment by Donald Sosin and live translation of French and Italian intertitles.

The River, directed by Jean Renoir, written by Rumer Godden and Jean Renoir (India, U.S.A.). A not-to-be-missed screening of a recent restoration, which returns one of the most memorable and lovely color films of all time to its original glow. A group of English colonials on the banks of the Ganges gradually succumb to India’s eternal perspectives. Renoir’s images flow with the same languor as the metaphorical river. In English.

Tribute to Nam June Paik, A collection of work by Korea-born, New York-based video art pioneer Nam June Paik, who died in January. Presented in collaboration with the Nam June Paik Studio, Electronic Arts Intermix, and John Hanhardt, Senior Curator of the Film and Media Arts department at the Guggenheim Museum.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
    Marcel Proust (1871 - 1922)
    French Novelist

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