Yesterday’s IDFA round-up looked at selected titles from the First Appearance competition for which I was a juror. Today’s wraps up my brief thoughts on films from other competitions, as well as a handful of films from the festival’s non-competing “Reflecting Images” sections. Continue reading
Category Archives: Film Festivals
IDFA 2011: Docs in Brief, Part Two
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief, Recommendations
On TV: ART & COPY
Coming to PBS’ Independent Lens tomorrow, Thursday, December 1: ART & COPY
Doug Pray’s look at advertising and its influence had its world premiere in competition at Sundance in 2009. The film went on to screen extensively at other fests, picking up awards at Atlanta and Newport Beach, as well as an Emmy for Outstanding Arts & Culture programming.
The director of acclaimed festival favorites like SURFWISE and SCRATCH turns his attention to the world of advertising, examining the intersection of creativity, commerce, and culture. His film explores the origins of some of the most famous advertising campaigns in the US and how they left an impression on modern culture – from Reagan’s “It’s morning in America” ads to Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan. Beyond running down these and other memorable sales pitches, the film is especially captivating in relating the seismic shift that took place within the industry in the mid-1960s when art directors began to collaborate directly with copywriters, which had never been done before. Interviewing real world Mad Men (and Mad Women), Pray brings to life the story of how the profession moved from the mediocre to became a dynamic, exciting, and creative endeavor – albeit one that hinges on the ethically questionable practice of persuading people they absolutely need to have what’s being pitched to them.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Sundance
IDFA 2011: Docs in Brief, Part One
The 24th edition of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam wrapped up this past weekend, announcing awards on Friday. I was fortunate to have a chance to view the winners of the Best Feature-Length (PLANET OF SNAIL) and Best Mid-Length (MONTENEGRO) competitions, and served on the jury for First Appearance (THE VANISHING SPRING LIGHT) (pictured). Jury responsibilities meant that I wasn’t able to catch a number of films in other categories, including winners 5 BROKEN CAMERAS, 900 DAYS, THE BETRAYAL, THE LAST DAYS OF WINTER, and BITTER SEEDS. Beyond these, I would have liked to have seen PUTIN’S KISS and BAD WEATHER in the Feature-Length competition, JEROME JEROME and MEET THE FOKKENS in the Dutch competition, and DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL and THE WILL in Reflecting Images: Panorama – but I’m certain that most of these will be making the festival rounds. This post offers my thoughts on some of the films in my competition, while a follow up tomorrow will include a selection of films from other competitions that I did manage to view. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief
On DVD: BECOMING CHAZ
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, November 29: BECOMING CHAZ
The prolific Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato’s in-depth portrait of Chastity Bono’s FTM transition to Chaz Bono premiered at Sundance this year. It became the first film in Oprah’s Documentary Club this past May.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
IDFA 2011: The FORUM in Brief
My Indiewire article on IDFA’s international co-production financing market, the FORUM, is now up here. Beyond spotlighting some notable new projects, it hopefully offers some useful information to filmmakers about the qualities of an effective and engaging pitch.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, In Brief
On DVD: THESE AMAZING SHADOWS
Coming to DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, November 22: THESE AMAZING SHADOWS
Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton premiered their doc on the National Film Registry at Sundance at the beginning of the year. Since then, it has screened at nearly two dozen additional festivals, picking up awards in Savannah and Louisville, and enjoyed theatrical engagements all over the country.
I profiled the film before Sundance here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
IDFA 2011 Overview, Part Two
Yesterday, the first part of my IDFA overview highlighted a number of films screening in the Amsterdam-based festival’s various competitions. In this second post, I look at the remainder of the regular programming and offer a few more of my must-sees. This still only barely scratches the surface of the event’s extensive line-up, not to mention other components like the Forum, DocLab, retrospective screenings, panels, and shorts. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
IDFA 2011 Overview, Part One
IDFA, the largest documentary event in the world, begins next Wednesday in Amsterdam and continues through November 27. More than 300 films will screen, culled from 3600 submissions – staggering figures, and a testament to the diligence of Director Ally Derks and her staff.
I’ve been attending the festival for the past few years, and am honored to be serving on the its First Appearance competition jury for this edition. I look forward to seeing each of the sixteen debut films in this category, hailing from nearly as many countries, so, out of impartiality, I won’t single any of them out below. The full list may be found here. Continue reading
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Overviews, Recommendations
On DVD: LIFE IN A DAY
Coming to DVD next Tuesday, November 8: LIFE IN A DAY
Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald combed through YouTube user-generated footage from July 24, 2010 to create a portrait of life during a single day. The film had its simultaneous world premiere at Sundance and online this past January and also had a theatrical engagement during the Summer.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations, Releases, Sundance
On Cable: CRIME AFTER CRIME
Premiering on OWN as part of Oprah’s Documentary Club this Thursday, November 3: CRIME AFTER CRIME
Yoav Potash premiered his film about battered woman Deborah Peagler’s case at Sundance this year, and went on to claim awards at San Francisco and Washington DC. It had a limited theatrical release this summer and now comes to cable via Oprah.
My pre-Sundance profile of the film may be found here.
Support the OWN Documentary Club by tuning in Thursday at 9pm!
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Releases, Sundance
