Select Festivals: SXSW, Oxford, Cleveland, Annapolis, Provincetown, San Francisco Jewish
About: When a young father chances to meet a powerful senator on an airplane, their exchange goes viral, sparking one of the most unlikely political movements in a generation.
Coming to DVD today, Tuesday, October 5 and to virtual cinemas this Friday, October 8: WITKIN & WITKIN
Director: Trisha Ziff
World Premiere: Morelia 2017
Select Festivals: DOC NYC, Los Cabos, San Francisco DocFest, Hot Docs, AFI Docs
About: Gifted twin brothers—photographer Joel-Peter Witkin and painter Jerome Witkin—reunite for a joint show.
The film screened at DOC NYC, for which our program notes read: Joel-Peter Witkin is a celebrated photographer, known for dark tableaux full of disturbing images. His identical twin brother Jerome is an equally acclaimed figurative painter, whose work explores sociohistorical themes. These two gifted artists rarely communicate with one another, maintaining separate lives despite their shared upbringing. Told almost entirely by the women in their lives, Trisha Ziff’s intimate film explores themes of love, loss, and distance, while showcasing the Witkins’ fascinating bodies of work. When they reunite for their first-ever joint exhibition, will the brothers’ artistic collaboration change their perspectives on their own – or each other’s – work and lives?
About: An exploration of the complexity of the immigration debate through the stories of an undocumented Guatemalan teenager and a Cuban-American ICE agent.
Select Festivals: Hot Docs, New Orleans, BAMcinemaFest, Chicago Latino, Seattle, IFF Boston, San Francisco Doc
About: A Mexican-American high school teenager living in California with dreams of going to college is forced to be the breadwinner for her family when ICE raids threaten their livelihood.
About: During the thaw in US/Cuban relations, two brothers, both gifted musicians, long separated by borders, reunite for a joint tour through both countries.
About: A portrait of the forgotten figure from the 1960s NYC folk music scene.
The film screened as part of DOC NYC, for which our program notes read: Blues and folk singer Karen Dalton was a prominent figure in 1960s New York. Idolized by Bob Dylan and Nick Cave, Karen discarded the traditional trappings of success and led an unconventional life until her early death. Since most images of Karen have been lost or destroyed, the film uses Karen’s dulcet melodies and interviews with loved ones to build a rich portrait of this singular woman and her hauntingly beautiful voice.
Select Festivals: New York, IDFA, Thessaloniki Doc, Docs Against Gravity, Busan, San Diego Asian
About: Three prominent Chinese authors create a tapestry of testimonies about the drastic changes in Chinese life and culture that began with the social revolution of the 1950s.