I forgot to post a note here that my newest monthly “Ask the Expert” blog post for IFP went up earlier this week, this time focusing on What (Not) To Do For Film Festivals. Take a look here.
For those of you in NYC next week, I’ll be moderating the “Positioning Your Film for Festivals and Buyers” panel at IFP’s Independent Film Week on Wednesday, September 22 at Noon.
Filed under Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations
Opening this Wednesday, September 15: GASLAND
Josh Fox’s debut documentary premiered in competition at Sundance this year, where it picked up a special jury prize.
In this intimate personal documentary, Fox functions not only as the filmmaker but as the film’s guide, exploring the natural gas industry after he is offered a large sum of money to lease his property to drill for the reserves far beneath it. Focusing on a recently discovered large expanse of natural gas, the Marcellus Shale, Fox visits numerous land owners in his same position across more than 30 states to witness flammable drinking water, toxic streams, increased incidents of diseases, and animal deaths. The film is a well-made analysis of the risks and benefits associated with exploiting natural resources, and the short-sightedness that’s already created huge problems for families and communities swayed by the promise of immediate payoffs.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases, Sundance
Opening next Wednesday, September 15: CATFISH
Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman’s debut film was the talk of Sundance this year, with many immediately questioning whether the film was in fact actually wholly a documentary.
It’s hard to say much about CATFISH (whose title I frankly don’t care for, explained incredibly late in the film, but I suppose it adds to the film’s mystique) without spoiling it, so I’m going to go as far as the festival catalogue description did: The film’s charismatic semi-nerdy protag, Nev, a photographer, becomes involved in a long-distance online relationship with Megan, the attractive sister of an eight-year-old painting prodigy, Abby, who had contacted him via MySpace to ask if she could paint one of his photographs. But when Nev and his friends head out to rural Michigan to visit the family in person for the first time, they discover that not everything they knew about the sisters is exactly as it seems.
While I worry that the film has been overhyped, I definitely enjoyed the experience of watching it, and am very curious to see how larger audiences will respond to Rogue’s release.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases, Sundance
Being released on DVD September 14: CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY
Prolific Academy Award-winner Alex Gibney’s at times jaw-dropping exposé on top Washington DC lobbyist Jack Abramoff premiered at Sundance this year before being released theatrically by Magnolia in May. Abramoff’s story has inspired a fictionalized version, titled simply CASINO JACK, directed by George Hickenlooper and starring Kevin Spacey, which premieres in Toronto next week.
The ambitious Abramoff took advantage of his political influence to bribe politicians and bilk Native American tribes out of millions in an outrageous scheme to establish a gambling empire. When he’s tripped up by his own emails, the scandal takes down White House officials, Congressmen, and fellow lobbyists, among others. It’s a tale of greed, corruption, and hubris that reaches almost Shakespearean proportions, made even more shocking and enraging because it’s all true, and Gibney succeeds in making it a thoroughly compelling viewing experience.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases, Sundance
During Toronto, indieWIRE is presenting a series of interviews at the TIFF Filmmakers Lounge on films featured in this year’s lineup. This Monday, September 13 at 1pm, I’ll be moderating a discussion on the film COOL IT with director Ondi Timoner and her film’s subject, Bjorn Lomborg, the controversial economist and political scientist whose book, Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming inspired the documentary. The outspoken Timoner’s previous docs, DIG! and WE LIVE IN PUBLIC, both claimed the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, so I’m looking forward to the film and to the talk. Come by if you’re attending the festival – the series is free for badgeholders.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations
On Wednesday, October 6, I’ll be leading a workshop for Raindance New York as part of their five course Documentary Production Certificate, covering funding, legal contracts, post-production, festivals, and marketing/self-distribution.
As the title of this post suggests, I’m covering film festivals. While the workshop description says it’s “about how to get your documentary into festivals,” that’s slightly overstating it – ultimately, your work gets your film into a festival, not some secret tricks. Instead, I’ll be trying to impart advice that can help documentarians make better decisions about positioning their projects for consideration – from selecting the right and wrong fests to which to apply, to demystifying the programming process so that you know what to spend your time and resources on, and what not to. In addition, I’ll offer some practical information about how to get the most out of attending a festival in which your film is screening.
Sign up for Documentaries & Film Festivals: What You Should Know.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Recommendations
Opening this Friday, September 3: LAST TRAIN HOME
Documentary programmers, press, and industryites attending IDFA last Fall were abuzz after viewing Lixin Fan’s film, which went on to have its North American premiere in the World Cinema Competition at Sundance. Capturing in heartbreaking detail the sacrifices many Chinese rural villagers have had to make to provide for their families, the film follows one couple amongst 130 million migrant workers who make an annual holiday visit from the city where they spend virtually the entire year back to their home village to see the children they’ve left behind.
Fan establishes a powerful intimacy with his subjects – so much so that, in a pivotal scene, the audience is usually left gasping at what they’re bearing witness to, powerless to intervene and pained to see the fracturing of a family. In years to come, LAST TRAIN HOME may very well be recognized as a new classic among world documentaries.
Update: indieWIRE has a great interview with Fan for their FUTURES column here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Releases, Sundance
One of the Fall’s most notable European documentary events (along with the soon-to-be-in-June Sheffield Doc/Fest and IDFA), CPH:DOX has established its own unique voice (last year its jury awarded the grand prize to Harmony Korine’s TRASH HUMPERS…). Its DOX:FORUM has just been announced as relaunching as a financing forum for its next edition, November 10-12.
With the aim of showcasing innovative new non-fiction works in various stages of development to international producers, commissioning agents, other financiers, and programmers, DOX:FORUM will feature meetings, seminars, and networking opportunities for 20 selected projects which should run the gamut from documentary/fiction hybrids, high end theatrical doc prospects, and low-budget, non-traditional works.
While they note a natural emphasis on European and specifically Nordic filmmaking, they encourage applications from any interested filmmakers worldwide. Details on the free application process are here, with a deadline of September 1.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals, Funding Deadlines
I’ve had two amazing experiences with SXSW both times that I’ve attended: in 2009, I was on the Documentary Competition Jury (together with Thompson on Hollywood‘s Anne Thompson and ITVS’ Lois Vossen), awarding 45365 and recognizing THE WAY WE GET BY; and earlier this year, we premiered THE CANAL STREET MADAM in that same competition. I really like the festival’s programming and energy, and Austin is a fun city.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals
SnagFilms’ SummerFest launches the last film in this year’s series, THE “SOCALLED” MOVIE, today, which premiered at IDFA this year, and offers a multiperspectival portrait of Josh Dolgin, a gay, Jewish, hip-hop klezmer artist.
Watch the film for free and read my interview with director Garry Beitel here.
Filed under Documentary, Film, Film Festivals
what (not) to doc 