Category Archives: Recommendations

January 12, 2017 · 12:01 PM

2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: TAKE EVERY WAVE: THE LIFE OF LAIRD HAMILTON

TAKE EVERY WAVE: THE LIFE OF LAIRD HAMILTON
Rory Kennedy profiles the iconoclastic athlete who revolutionized big wave surfing.

Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
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January 12, 2017 · 9:44 AM

2017 Cinema Eye Honors Winners

The 10th anniversary Cinema Eye Honors, recognizing achievements in non-fiction film from 2016, were celebrated at the Museum of the Moving Image at a ceremony last evening. Earlier this week, the organization announced its Legacy Award winner, Rob Epstein’s THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK; as well as Michal Marczak’s hybrid ALL THESE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS as the winner of the Heterodox Award, which annually goes to a fiction film that incorporates nonfiction strategies.

Below is the full list of winners announced at last night’s ceremony, which was hosted for the second year in a row by acclaimed documentarian and part-time comedian Steve James. I was happy to once again serve on the Nominations Committee. Congratulations to all the winners, nominees, and the Cinema Eye organizers!

Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
CAMERAPERSON

Audience Choice Prize
GLEASON

Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Ezra Edelman for OJ: MADE IN AMERICA

Outstanding Achievement in Editing
Nels Bangerter for CAMERAPERSON

Outstanding Achievement in Production
Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow for OJ: MADE IN AMERICA

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography
Kirsten Johnson for CAMERAPERSON

Outstanding Acheivement in Nonfiction Films Made for Television
MAKING A MURDERER

Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film
HOOLIGAN SPARROW

Outstanding Achievement in an Original Music Score
David Byrne, LeeAnn Rossi, and Aaron Rosenblum for CONTEMPORARY COLOR

Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design or Animation
Craig Staggs and Keith Maitland for TOWER

Spotlight Award
LES SAUTEURS (THOSE WHO JUMP)

Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking
LA LAGUNA

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January 11, 2017 · 3:02 PM

2017 Sundance Docs in Focus: RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN

RANCHER, FARMER, FISHERMAN
Directors Susan Froemke and John Hoffman and co-director Beth Aala profile unlikely conservation leaders.

Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres

Special Program:
The New Climate
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January 11, 2017 · 2:12 PM

New York Jewish Film Festival 2016: Documentary Overview

The 25th annual New York Jewish Film Festival opens tonight, Wednesday, January 11, and runs through Tuesday, January 24. The event, co-presented by Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Jewish Museum, has a smaller lineup than in the past, presenting just over 20 new and retrospective features, including 11 new works of nonfiction.

Among these offerings are the world premieres of SHALOM RABIN (pictured), Amos Gitai’s essay film of the months prior to the controversial Israeli leader’s assassination; and ANGEL WAGENSTEIN: ART IS A WEAPON, Andrea Simon’s portrait of the Cannes award-winning Bulgarian Jewish director and author.

US premieres include Gabrielle Zilkha’s DOING JEWISH: A STORY FROM GHANA (pictured), which follows the filmmaker as she connects with African Jews; and Giovanni Troilo’s WILLIAM KENTRIDGE: TRIUMPHS AND LAMENTS, a behind-the-scenes look at the Jewish South African artist as he undertakes a massive project in Rome.

Finally, New York City premieres appearing at the fest are Danae Elon’s THE PATRIARCH’S ROOM (pictured), about Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Church leader, living under house arrest; and Oren Rosenfeld’s HUMMUS! THE MOVIE, which profiles three diverse Israelis and the food that connects them.