Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Elan Bogarín and Jonathan Bogarín
Elan Bogarín and Jonathan Bogarín conduct a creative archaeological exploration of their late grandmother’s home and possessions.
Festival Section:
Next
Sundance Program Description:
Do objects retain a spark of life from their owner after that person dies? This question catapults a dynamic brother-sister filmmaking duo on an epic odyssey to excavate their deceased grandma Annette’s unassuming Newark home of 71 years. Toothbrushes, tax documents, three vacuum cleaners – her motley collection of stuff becomes a universe unto itself, springing to life in the cinematic playground of this innovative documentary.
In the siblings’ inventive hands, the white clapboard house transforms into a magical-realist landscape replete with animated 1950s dresses and mysterious visits from physicists and fashion conservators. Inspired by archaeologists and archivists, they catalog decades of forgotten miscellany and beloved tchotchkes, creating exquisite pastiches while searching for meaning in the patterns. Who was Grandma Annette? Colorful interviews with the octogenarian in her crowded kitchen provide precious clues. And when they discover a 1972 cassette tape and use actors to lip synch intimate family conversations, it’s like a new dimension cracks open from the netherworld. In 306 HOLLYWOOD, fragments of a modest life mingle mystically – creating a profound meditation on memory bursting at the seams with love.
Some Background:
Directors/Screenwriters/Producers/Editors:
Elan Bogarín previously produced the Gotham and Independent Spirit-nominated 2009 Sundance dramatic feature BIG FAN. She co-founded The Wassaic Project, a multidisciplinary arts festival and residency program in Wassaic NY, and makes films with her brother Jonathan through their El Tigre Productions shingle, which has produced content for the Whitney, Getty, and MoMA, among other institutions. This is her feature debut, which received support from the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program.
Visual artist Jonathan Bogarín co-founded El Tigre Productions with his sister Elan. This is his feature directorial debut.
Producer:
Stalter is a cofounder of Hungarian film production company Laokoon Filmgroup, through which she produced Oscar winner SON OF SAUL. This is her first Sundance credit.
Executive Producers:
Past Sundance docs:
TROPHY (2017)
Froehle is the co-founder and CEO of Chicago Media Project, which facilitates philanthropic support of social impact documentaries.
Past Sundance docs:
TROPHY
INEQUALITY FOR ALL (2013)
HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE (2012)
HELL AND BACK AGAIN (2011)
Cohen is an attorney and the co-founder and board chair of Chicago Media Project. Previously he helped finance documentary projects as a member of Impact Partners.
Past recent Sundance docs:
ICARUS (2017)
Pelletier is an entrepreneur and board member of Chicago Media Project. He was the founding CTO of Groupon.
Past recent Sundance docs:
AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER (2017)
FED UP (2014, executive producer)
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (2006, producer)
David is an environmental activist, author, and producer.
Past recent Sundance docs:
STEP (2017)
UNREST (2017)
DOLORES (2017)
NEWTOWN (2016)
MAYA ANGELOU: AND STILL I RISE (2016)
RESILIENCE (2016)
UNDER THE GUN (2016)
THE EAGLE HUNTRESS (2016)
The Artemis Rising Foundation philanthropist is also an executive producer for Documentary Premieres title GENERATION WEALTH, US Documentary Competition title BISBEE ’17, and Documentary Premieres title WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?, and a producer for US Dramatic Competition title THE TALE.
Past Sundance docs:
Recent past Sundance docs:
BENDING THE ARC (2017)
STEP
PROPHET’S PREY (2015)
THE MASK YOU LIVE IN (2015)
IN FOOTBALL WE TRUST (2015)
DREAMCATCHER (2015)
HOT GIRLS WANTED (2015)
THE HUNTING GROUND (2015)
Co-Founder of both Impact Partners and Gamechanger Films, Dreyfous also executive produced 2018 World Cinema Doc Competition titles OUR NEW PRESIDENT and OF FATHERS AND SONS, Premieres title THE LONG DUMB ROAD, GENERATION WEALTH, BISBEE ’17, THE TALE, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?, and co-executive produced US Dramatic Competition title NANCY.
Past Sundance docs:
THE NIGHTMARE (2015)
Iwashina is a veteran agent, now part of Endeavor Content after running his own sales company, Preferred Content, for the past seven years. In addition to repping scores of titles, he also executive produced Sundance fiction alums FRANK & LOLA (2016), THE TRUTH ABOUT EMANUEL (2013), JESS + MOSS (2011), and LITTLE BIRDS (2011).
Davis worked with Iwashina as Preferred Content’s VP of nonfiction content. This is her first Sundance credit.
Editor/Screenwriter:
Past Sundance docs:
(T)ERROR
Why You Should Watch:
The Bogarín siblings’ project is simply charming – one of the most enjoyable films to watch at this year’s festival. The filmmakers tackle big topics like aging, mortality, memory, and family without being heavy handed, bringing a refreshing but never overwhelming sense of whimsy to the proceedings. Moreover, they are blessed with the scene-stealing presence of Grandma Annette, posthumously but vibrantly introduced to viewers through years of casual interviews with her grandchildren – and, of course, through her home, a character in itself. The first-ever documentary to screen in the Next section, the film premieres as one of this year’s Day One screenings.
For Sundance screening dates and times, click the film title in the first paragraph.
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