For Spaniards - and for the world - nothing has expressed their country's traditionally rigid gender roles more powerfully than the image of the male matador. So sacred was the bullfighter's masculinity to Spanish identity that a 1908 law barred women from the sport. Ella Es el Matador reveals the surprising history of the women who made such a law necessary and offers fascinating profiles of two female matadors currently in the arena: the acclaimed Mari Paz Vega and neophyte Eva Florencia. These women are gender pioneers by necessity. But what emerges as their truest motivation is their sheer passion - for bullfighting and the pursuit of a dream. A co-presentation with Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB).
by Gemma Cubero and Celeste Carrasco
For Spaniards - and for the world - nothing has expressed their country's traditionally rigid gender roles more powerfully than the image of the male matador. So sacred was the bullfighter's masculinity to Spanish identity that a 1908 law barred women from the sport. Ella Es el Matador reveals the surprising history of the women who made such a law necessary and offers fascinating profiles of two female matadors currently in the arena: the acclaimed Mari Paz Vega and neophyte Eva Florencia. These women are gender pioneers by necessity. But what emerges as their truest motivation is their sheer passion - for bullfighting and the pursuit of a dream. A co-presentation with Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB).
Directed by Gemma Cubero and Celeste Carrasco
Each completed entry form must be accompanied by supporting materials, including an English-language synopsis of the film, a list of film credits, filmographies of the director(s) and/or producer(s), 30 DVD copies of the film, and proof of seven-day qualifying exhibitions.
A documentary feature must complete a seven-day commercial run in both Los Angeles County and in the Borough of Manhattan in New York, between September 1, 2008, and August 31, 2009. An extension of the eligibility period to September 30, 2009, may be granted only if the film has legal contracts with exhibitors guaranteeing that it will complete both qualifying commercial runs before the extension deadline. In those instances, all other required materials must still meet the September 1 deadline.
To be eligible in the Documentary Short Subject category, a film must complete a seven-day commercial run in a theater in either Los Angeles County or in the Borough of Manhattan in New York, between September 1, 2008, and August 31, 2009.
At the 81st Academy Awards this past February, "Smile Pinki" and "Man on Wire" won in the Documentary Short Subject and Documentary Feature categories, respectively.
Additional information about the documentary awards categories may be obtained by contacting assistant awards coordinator Michelle Ayala at (310) 247-3000, ext. 117, via e-mail at mayala@oscars.org, or by visiting http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/rules/rule12.html
The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
The call for proposals was released just days before the European electorate (comprised of about 375 million citizens) was given the opportunity to elect the next pan-European assembly which, for the next five years, will vocalize the needs and opinions of European citizens. As an influential player in European Union resolutions, the democratically elected European Parliament helps to shape legislation that affects the everyday lives of Europeans by championing human rights, equal opportunities and environmental protection. The submission deadline for the call is September 1st, 2009 - a date by which the newly elected Parliament will be situated in office, and busy launching the next wave of lawmaking.
Apart from radio and web guidelines, the Parliament's television call is open only to television broadcasting and/or television production companies, not individual filmmakers/producers. Each proposal must guarantee that its program will be officially broadcast if awarded the grant, accumulating an overall budget of five million Euro.
Submitted projects must encourage a greater public involvement in the European Parliament's decision-making processes and enhance the peoples' understanding of its function and position. The chosen projects "will concentrate on providing unbiased, accurate and up-to-date information which will include specific links to the role played by the European Parliament as [a] democratically elected body," says the Directorate General for Communication. The winning project proposals will be selected by an evaluation committee, with its final decisions announced in mid-November of this year.
For more information on how to apply, visit: http://www.europarl.europa.eu
Brazilian TV Producers (BTVP), an audiovisual content export program founded in 2004 to promote Brazilian independent audiovisual production in the international market, is launching a five-day, doc-specific training program. PIC DOC is a free program for Brazilian producers that will feature workshops designed to improve the quality of documentaries produced in Brazil for the national and international markets.
The program runs from November 30 to December 4 and will be held in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian producers have until September 3 to enroll for the program, in which 40 projects will be selected and international specialists in the field of documentary production will offer their input on assorted topics in lectures, workshops, seminars and one-on-one meetings. Among the areas to be covered are the place of documentaries in domestic and international TV schedules; examples of successful international coproductions and Brazilian docs; working in a multi-platform world; tips on selling projects, legal considerations and budgets; Brazilian coproduction legislation; and advice on how to approach and pitch to TV channels in Brazil and beyond.
The call for entries covers TV documentaries formatted as a series, or short, medium or feature-length films. Each of the 40 projects selected by the international jury may be represented by up to two producers during the program. The application form and rules for entry are available at www.braziliantvproducers.com. Producers (legal entities) registered at ANCINE from any region of Brazil may submit their projects for consideration. The 40 chosen projects will be revealed on www.braziliantvproducers.com on October 17, 2009. Also, BTVP will provide support for accommodation and transportation to participants from other regions.
The BTVP program is an initiative of ABPI-TV (Brazilian Association of Independent Television Producers) in partnership with the Audiovisual Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture and Apex-Brazil (Brazilian Exports and Investments Promotion Agency). The program is overseen by Silvio Da-Rin, Audiovisual Secretary of the Ministry of Culture; Bruno Amado, manager of BTVP at Apex-Brasil; Fernando Dias, president of ABPI-TV (pictured); and Eliana Russi, BTVP executive manager.
Postmarked Deadlines are as follows:
Regular - September 4, 2009
Final - October 20, 2009
The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, the premier venue for
nonfiction film in the American West, is seeking submissions for its
sixth annual event. From February 12-21, 2010 the festival will
screen 100 films, including world and U.S. premieres, classics, rare
and experimental works on Montana's largest screen at the historic
Wilma Theater in downtown Missoula, Montana. In addition to ten days
of screenings, the event will feature many public and VIP events
including panel discussions, galas, receptions and networking
round-tables.
The competitive event is open to non-fiction films and videos of all
genres, subject matter, lengths and production dates. Awards and cash
prizes will be given for Best Documentary Feature (over 50 minutes),
Best Documentary Short (15-50 minutes), Best Mini-Doc (under 15
minutes) and best documentary about the American West (the "Big Sky
Award").
VHS (NTSC/PAL), DVD (NTSC/PAL), DVCAM (NTSC/PAL), HDV (NTSC), and
miniDV (NTSC/PAL) accepted for preview.
Enter via Withoutabox.com at - http://www.withoutabox.com/login/3969
or download entry form in pdf format at -
http://www.bigskyfilmfest.org/entries.html
If you would like an entry form emailed to you in pdf format, send a
request to .
We look forward to viewing your films!
Mike Steinberg
Festival Director/ Programmer
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
131 South Higgins Avenue, Suite 3-6
Missoula, Montana 59802
(406) 541- FILM (3456)
callforentries@bigskyfilmfest.org
www.bigskyfilmfest.org
XXX Global Media Awards
The Population Institute's Global Media Awards are devoted to drawing attention to global population issues. The award honors those who have contributed to creating an awareness of population problems through their journalistic endeavors in a meritorious manner.
Guidelines
1. Entries must contain nominee's complete contact information : name, address, phone, and e-mail.
2. Entries must be accompanied by a brief description of the entry and a justification explaining why it should be considered for a Global Media Award.
3. English translations must accompany entries in other languages.
4. Applicants must submit three printed copies of their submissions.
Selection Criteria
Entries will be evaluated on their potential to educate and inform policymakers or the general public about issues related to population growth. The jury will score entries on the following criteria.
Is the program reporting:
Accurate and fair?
Easily understood by the targeted audience?
Offer a new or enhanced perspective on the subject of population?
Relevant to the public policy debate on population or public understanding of issues related to population?
Well-presented?
How to Submit
Entries must be sent to:
Global Media Awards Program
Population Institute
107 Second Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Please submit justification for award, the name of the media outlet and the date of its use, along with 3 copies of the project being considered. For more information contact Jennie Wetter: (202) 544-3300 ext. 108; e-mail jwetter@populationinstitute.org.
Eligibility Dates and Deadline for Submission
Eligible works must have been published or aired between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009. Deadline for entries is September 4, 2009. Winners will receive award in Washington, D.C. with all expenses paid.
Category Definitions
· Best Article or Series of Articles: For a journalist or journalists who best discuss population-related issues in an article or series of articles appearing in printed or online new sources, including magazines. This excludes any opinion pieces.
For more information please visit www.populationinstitute.org.
Antonia Pantoja: ¡Presente! tells the story of educator/organizer Antonia Pantoja, founder of the New York-based advocacy organization, Aspira. A passionate, indomitable leader, Pantoja worked with Puerto Rican "immigrant-citizens" to fight against second-class citizenship and to secure a bilingual voice. Through passionate personal testimony, never-before-seen home movies, archival footage, and the work of visual artist Juan Sanchez, the feisty Antonia Pantoja guides us through the Puerto Rican community's struggles and triumphs.
Premieres Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 10PM (check local listings)
THE DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL® TO BRING ATTENTION TO
WORLDWIDE WATER CRISIS IN SEPTEMBER BY PREMIERING
FOUR INTERNATIONAL FILMS ON WATER DURING
MONDAY"PRIMETIME PREMIERES" LINEUP
On Monday, Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, DOC premieres "The Water Project: Bahrain," a documentary produced by Omar Salman Al Slaise which examines the shortage of natural water resources in the Kingdom of Bahrain caused by overdevelopment and dredging. By delving into the past, the prominent history of the Kingdom is presented as a land of two seas resulting in an abundance of natural water resources. Now called the land with no beach, the present day water shortage in Bahrain is strikingly apparent. The cost, obstacles and debates over how to solve this shortage are explored by interviewing water plant workers and everyday Bahrainis.
About The Documentary Channel®: The Documentary Channel (DOC) is the USA's first 24-hour television network exclusively devoted to documentary films and the independent documentary filmmaker, providing viewers with round-the-clock opportunities to see fascinating, eclectic and award-winning documentary films of all lengths and genres. For more information on DOC, visit www.documentarychannel.com.
On Dec. 23, 2008, two days before Christmas, the General Motors assembly plant in Moraine, Ohio shut its doors. As a result, 2,500 workers and 200 management staff were left without jobs, while the closing is also sure to trigger the loss of thousands of related jobs and businesses. But the GM workers lost much more than jobs, including the pride they share in their work and the camaraderie built through the years. To the natives of Moraine and the greater Dayton area, General Motors wasn't just a car company - it was the lifeblood of the community. Ohio-based filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert put a human face on the decline of American industry when THE LAST TRUCK: CLOSING OF A GM PLANT debuts on Labor Day, MONDAY, SEPT. 7 (9:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT), concluding this year's HBO Documentary Films summer series.
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 10 (9:30 a.m.), 13 (12:45 p.m.), 16 (12:30 p.m.), 19 (1:30 p.m.) and 21 (5:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m.)
THE LAST TRUCK: CLOSING OF A GM PLANT was directed and produced by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert; edited by Steven Bognar. For HBO: senior producer, Lisa Heller; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.
by Geoffrey Smith
MICROCINEMA INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES
THE LOS ANGELES PREMIERE
OF "LOOSE CHANGE 9/11: AN AMERICAN COUP"
6:30PM - DOORS OPEN
7:30PM - 9:30PM SCREENING OF LOOSE CHANGE 9/11: AN AMERICAN COUP
9:30PM - 10:30PM Q&A WITH THE FILM'S DIRECTOR DYLAN AVERY
WHERE: THE GRANADA FORUM LOCATED AT 5657 LINDLEY AVENUE IN TARZANA (AT ST. INNOCENT'S CHURCH)
DONATION: $10 PER PERSON - TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR
FOR MORE INFO CALL 805-653-1588
Co-presented by Good Karma, PR and the Granada Forum
Proceeds benefit the Avery Foundation: a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this film will benefit first responders and the victims families via the Avery Foundation.
"Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup" directed by Dylan Avery
With the departure of the Bush Administration and the arrival of an "era of transparency," opportunities are arising for the disclosure of new information that may shed more light on the events that took place before and after 9/11/2001.
Dramatically narrated by Daniel Sunjata of FX's Rescue Me, and an outspoken advocate for the First Responders, Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup first examines mysterious and infamous events that reshaped world history - from the Reichstag Fire in 1933 that catapulted Hitler to dictatorship - to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964 that led to the Vietnam War, and then takes viewers on a turbulent journey through several pivotal moments in history before delving into the most significant catastrophe in recent memory, 9/11.
Loaded with powerful, new footage and in-depth interviews with the likes of Steven Earl Jones, an American physicist who has discovered undetonated explosive material in multiple samples of dust from the World Trade Center collapses, this documentary presents a wide array of evidence both known and unknown -- until now.
Eight years later, the American people continue to live in the aftermath of 9/11 and deal with its ongoing repercussions. Is this just another machination of power on the timeline of history? If so, the real question is what happens next? Or better yet, what can we do to prevent another 9/11? The film serves as a fundamental call to action which is fueled by hope that those affected by 9/11 will soon receive the answers that they have sought after for nearly a decade.
Please note: Seating for the Los Angeles Premiere is limited, so come early.
For more information on the film visit www.loosechange911.com
Microcinema Theatrical
Many of our new, upcoming and earlier releases are available for both theatrical and non-theatrical screenings. If you are interested in booking a screening, a theatrical run, or to request a screener, simply contact us at info@microcinema.com attention Jay McBride and we will be in touch. We look forward to working with all of you!
info@microcinema.com
+1-415-447-9750
SILHOUETTE CITY is an immersive journey through the recent history of American religious extremism. Using archival video, movement propaganda and original investigational material, the film tracks the movement of apocalyptic Christian nationalism and its most extreme adherents from the margins to the mainstream, the military and beyond.
As the nation and the world fall deeper into a potentially destabilizing
economic crisis, SILHOUETTE CITY examines the motivations for adopting apocalyptic worldviews by providing a unique window into the foundational ideas, organizational structure and psychological dynamics of one of the most powerful movements taking root in America today, most dangerously on U.S. military bases. The film bears witness to the long, dark shadows of fear and intolerance being cast in the familiar landscapes of the homeland.
The film begins with the story of The Covenant, The Sword & The Arm Of The Lord, a Christian survivalist group active in the '70s and '80s, as recounted by one of its former members, and then moves forward to the current post 9-11 era where militant Christianity has become the dominant influence in the lives of millions of Americans.
SILHOUETTE CITY features a wide array of interviews and appearances,
including Kerry Noble, a former Christian Militia leader; Mike Huckabee
former Arkansas Governor and 2008 presidential candidate; Chris Hedges, former New York Times Middle East bureau chief; Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation; and Dr. James Dobson, Founder and Chairman of Focus On The Family.
Additional interviewees include former Air Force Chaplain MeLinda Morton; Teen Mania Founder and President Ron Luce; Harvard Medical School lecturer in Psychiatry Robert J. Lifton; Coral Ridge Ministries Founder Dr. D. James Kennedy; World Harvest Church Founder Rod Parsley; best-selling author Tim Lahaye of the 'Left Behind' book series; and, Rick Scarborough, Founder and Director of Vision America. Produced and directed by Michael W. Wilson. 2008, USA. Running time: 88 minutes.
Laya Project - Passport Screenings
Saturday, September 12, 2:30 p.m.
ADMISSION:
Free; no reservations
Dedicated to the survivors of the December 26, 2004 Asian tsunami, Laya Project is an award-winning, visually spectacular tribute to the resilience of the human spirit. Featuring musicians from the tsunami-affected areas of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, and India, the film showcases rarely documented performances of the region's diverse folk music traditions. When the field recordings are brought back to a studio in Chennai, musician/producer Patrick Sebag invites additional local musicians to add their unique musical sensibilities, mixing the songs with contemporary sounds while preserving the spirit of the originals. Directed by Harold Monfils. (India/Malaysia, 2006, 67 min. No MPAA rating.)
"Laya Project is full of haunting vocals, restless rhythms, and glorious exoticism that a mere wall of water could never wash away." -www.worldmusiccentral.org
Featuring the work of award-winning director Beck Cole (Luritja/Warumungu) one of Australia's outstanding filmmakers who will screen and discuss three recent documentaries.
Saturday/ September 12th/ 1- 4:30PM
The National Museum of the American Indian,
The George Gustav Heye Center, One Bowling Green, NYC
A Fair Deal for A Dark Race (2008, 55 min.) tells the story of Indigenous struggle for citizenship in Australia; it was part of the acclaimed 2008 Australian public-television series, First Australians.
Lore of Love (2005, 25 min.) (camera: Warwick Thornton). An Indigenous urban teen journeys with her feisty Pintupi grandmothers to their homelands, where they teach her the lore of love-the traditional way.
Making Samson & Delilah: (2009, 55 min.) goes behind the scenes with Aboriginal teen stars of the feature Samson and Delilah (dir. Warwick Thornton), 2009 Camera d'Or recipient at Cannes.
Discussion to follow with Beck Cole, Warwick Thornton (Kaytetye) and Faye Ginsburg, director, NYU's Center for Media, Culture and History.
Free Admission, reservations recommended 212 514-3737 or FVC@si.edu
In association with Icons of the Desert: Early Aboriginal Painting from Papunya
NYU's Grey Art Gallery, 100 Washington Square East, September 1- December. 5 2009
http://www.nyu.edu/greyart/
Presented with support from the Office of the Australian Consulate General, NYU Department of Anthropology, and Museum of Modern Art, Film and Video Department.
http://www.nativenetworks.si.edu/eng/orange/first_australians.html
Bracero Stories explores the personal experiences of five former "guest workers" in the controversial U.S.-Mexican bracero program, which granted temporary work contracts to several million Mexican laborers between 1942 and 1964. Their stories are interwoven and illustrated with archival materials, creating a composite narrative of the "bracero" experience. Interviews with other participants in the program assess its effectiveness and lasting impact. These discussions mirror and inform current debates about immigration and the role of imported labor in our economic development.
Premieres Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 10PM (check local listings)
The first conference of its kind on the West Coast, WESTDOC will bring together the top producers, directors, executives, agents and distributors in the non-fiction film and reality television industry. Interact with the people who can greenlight your show or give you insight into launching your career in this ever-expanding corner of the entertainment business.
From September 14-16, 2009, Santa Monica, CA will be the host city of an exciting new event for non-fiction and reality television professionals: WESTDOC - The West Coast Documentary and Reality Conference.
This three-day event will bring together preeminent producers, directors, writers, network executives, agents and distributors for insightful and unique seminars, as well as networking opportunities.
WESTDOC will feature two areas of professional interest designated as The Documentary Village and The Reality Village. Attendees and speakers will be able to take full advantage of both these arenas and be able to select seminars from any Village they choose.
The third day of the conference will be entirely devoted to PitchFest, a rousing live presentation for Documentary and Reality producers to pitch new concepts to network and development executives for potential acquisition, in front of a live audience.
310.616.5084
info@TheWestdoc.com
3000 Olympic Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90404
For registration, full schedule and speaker information go to: www.TheWestdoc.com
The Jordan Short Film Festival 2009 is Open for Film Submissions
Starting on the 10th of November 2009 until the 14th, another annual celebration of Arabic and International short cinema will mark the 5th session of the Jordan Short Film Festival (JSFF) and the beginning of a series of events such as filmmaking workshops, discussion panels, meetings of indie filmmakers, and the cornerstone event of the JSFF, the Arab and International film competitions.
For each competition, the award is $3000 USD. Special Merits shall be awarded for the categories of Cinematography, Acting, Script, and Editing.
The JSFF'09 is proud to celebrate its 5th year under the management of the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative.
We call on all filmmaking talents to participate in this intercultural dialogue to help enrich the experience of festival audiences and to promote the dialog of the civilizations.
Festival website and entry form: http://JordanFilmFestival.com
Deadline for film submission: Sep 15, 2009
Deadline for film delivery: Oct 1, 2009
Contact:
Director: Hazim Bitar
Phone: +962.776.400.434
Email: JordanianFilms@gmail.com
Web: http://JordanFilmFestival.com
About the Festival: The Jordan Short Film Festival (JSFF) is Jordan's only independent competitive international short film festival, established in 2004 to promote artistic freedom of expression and intercultural understanding.
The Principal Story tells two stories, painting a dramatic portrait of the challenges facing America's public schools - and of the great difference a dedicated principal can make. Tresa Dunbar is a second-year principal at Chicago's Nash Elementary, where 98% of students come from low-income families; in Springfield, Illinois, Kerry Purcell has led Harvard Park Elementary, with similar demographics, for six years. Tod Lending (Omar & Pete, P.O.V. 2005) and David Mrazek followed both women over the course of a school year, discovering each one's unique styles yet similar passions. The Principal Story takes the viewer along for an emotional ride that reveals what effective educational leadership looks like in the 21st century.
by Tod Lending and David Mrazek
Premieres Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 10PM (check local listings)
Special Presentation:
OUR DISAPPEARED/NUESTROS DESAPARECIDOS
by Juan Mandelbaum
They dreamed of a revolution that would transform Argentina. But what exactly happened to this hopeful generation who suddenly "disappeared"? Thirty years after leaving his native country of Argentina, Director Juan Mandelbaum discovers that a former college girlfriend was among the thousands abducted, tortured and "disappeared" during the country's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. His personal journey, along with others who lost loved ones, tells the story behind the brutal events that still haunts Argentina today.
by Yoni Brook and Musa Syeed
Tuesday, September 23 - SOLDIERS OF CONSCIENCE - 7:30 PM
Neighbors For Peace and Justice present Conscientious Projector, a film series that encourages community dialogue and debate about the contemporary political issues that affect us all. Soldiers of Conscience is a dramatic window on the dilemma of individual U.S. soldiers in the current Iraq War - when their finger is on the trigger and another human being is in their gun-sight. Made with cooperation from the U.S. Army and narrated by Peter Coyote, the film profiles eight American soldiers, including four who decide not to kill, and become conscientious objectors; and four who believe in their duty to kill if necessary. The film reveals all of them wrestling with the morality of killing in war, not as a philosophical problem, but as soldiers experience it - a split-second decision in combat that can never be forgotten or undone. Refreshments provided.
Part of the 2009 Doc U Seminar series.
Join us for a special evening with filmmaker, Ondi Timoner who will discuss her latest film and share the story of her unprecedented success at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. This is your chance to ask one of our community's most celebrated artists your questions about production and the art and business of documentary filmmaking! You won't want to miss this fantastic opportunity.
Ondi Timoner is the only filmmaker to ever win the Sundance Grand Jury Prize twice -- first for the critically-acclaimed DIG! (2004) and more recently in 2009 for WE LIVE IN PUBLIC that the New York Times called "riveting" and "a compelling cautionary tale." Timoner graduated from Yale University cum laude and founded Interloper Films in 1994. Her short film, RECYCLE (2005), was a winner at the ICG Awards, and screened at both Sundance and Cannes. She is currently directing and producing COOL IT, a documentary which explores the issues of global warming from a socio-economic perspective as it relates to the immediate needs of the developing world.
WE LIVE IN PUBLIC opens at the NuArt Theater on September 24.
Visit www.weliveinpublicthemovie.com for more information.
Eddie Schmidt (moderator) is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, writer/producer, and commentator, as well as the Board President of the International Documentary Association (IDA). Feature credits include producing & co-writing the acclaimed IFC documentary THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED, producing and shooting HBO's powerful TWIST OF FAITH (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award), and producing the groundbreaking teenage mosaic CHAIN CAMERA. All three films were released theatrically and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
*** Space is VERY limited, so be sure to reserve a seat soon!
A clip from the Doc U seminar with Robert Greenwald is available on our website:
http://www.documentary.org/content/video/7623
And on the IDA YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmR4pVM7HUw
IDA members: $35 advance
purchase; $45 at the door
Non-members: $45 advance
purchase; $55 at the door
Join IDA now! For discounted ticket prices and more!
How do you sell a documentary? In this workshop/competition, five preselected emerging nonfiction filmmakers will pitch their ideas to a panel of distinguished documentary producers. The producers will give them feedback on their concept as well as their presentation skills—great lessons for all aspiring filmmakers. The winner will receive a $5,000 grant, sponsored by SnagFilms, to be used toward the completion of the pitched film.
Selection: Based on the criteria of persuasiveness of the pitch, originality of the vision, and viability of the project, the panel will select one finalist as the winner of a $5,000 grant to be used toward the finalist’s completion of the documentary pitched at the workshop. The decision of the panel will be final and binding.
Entry Deadline: September 25, 2009.
This workshop takes place on October 17, 2009.
Please print out, sign, and mail a complete and fully-executed copy of the Entry Form & Submission Agreement, along with your Submission Materials, to:
Pitch Workshop
c/o The Paley Center for Media
9th Floor
25 West 52 Street
New York, NY 10019
All submissions must be postmarked no later than September 25, 2009. Entrants are strongly encouraged to submit prior to the deadline. Selection to the workshop is made on a rolling basis.
PANEL
Rick Allen, CEO, SnagFilms
Diana Holtzberg, Vice President - USA Operations Acquisitions, Project Development, Sales, Films Transit International
Charlie Maday, Senior Vice President, Programming, History
Molly Thompson, Programming Director, A&E IndieFilms
An executive from P.O.V.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2008: Circo directed by Aaron Schock
2007: The House that Herman Built directed by Angad Bhalla
2006: Whatever it Takes directed by Christopher Wong
2005: Asparagus! (A Stalk-umentary) directed by Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly
The American Documentary Showcase is looking for nominations of documentaries for possible inclusion in the 2010 series of the program. With the renewal of a grant by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to UFVA, the ADS is able to include 5-10 new titles and filmmakers in its second round, which runs through December 2010.
Mission:
The American Documentary Showcase, funded by and as a cooperative program with the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of States, and administered
through a cooperative grant to the University Film and Video Association, is a
curated selection of contemporary documentaries that is offered to US Embassies
for screening abroad. The Showcase is designed to travel American
documentaries and their filmmakers to international overseas venues, including
U.S. Embassy organized events and/or U.S. Embassy supported international
documentary film festivals.
The goal of The Showcase is to offer a broad diversified look at life in the United States and the values of a democratic society as seen by American documentary filmmakers. The Showcase is intended to demonstrate the role documentary plays in fostering understanding and cooperation among people.
Qualifications for Consideration:
Documentaries
nominated can be of any length and style, although the emphasis is on shorter, under one hour
films in this grant cycle. They must
have a release date no earlier than January 2007and must be
completed by September 2009, and available on DVD. They must be made by an American
citizen, focus primarily on American subject (this can be Americans
overseas, but the main emphasis must be on American citizens), and fit in to
one or preferably more, of the following categories. Filmmakers may nominate their own films. Student films of
exceptional quality are welcome.
Subject Categories:
The Democratic Process
Emigration/Immigration
Environment,
Nature, Our Planet
Ethnic Diversities
Health
Innovation
in Education
Music and Society (no concert films or music videos)
Popular
Culture
Women,
Families and Children
A panel of experts will vet up to 10 films for possible inclusion. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs makes final decisions about selection. To nominate a film, four NONRETURNABLE DVDs must be
submitted along with a short SYNOPSIS and CREDIT LISTS. Entries must be shipped PREPAID. Nomination
Postmark Deadline: SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
Nomination to this curated Showcase grants the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
of the U.S. Department of State, the UFVA and the IDA the right to use brief
clips, photographs, and biographical data of filmmakers and their subjects for
publicity and promotional purposes, including UFVA/ IDA/DOS websites, podcasts
and internet feeds. If the film is
chosen to be in the American Documentary Showcase, the copyright holder further
grants permission to the Showcase to make DVD duplicates, to screen the entire
documentary, or portions thereof, at American Embassies and overseas venues
selected by the Embassies, including foreign film festivals. The copyright holder also agrees to allow
the Showcase to subtitle their film as deemed necessary by the Showcase.
All materials must be shipped/mailed with all charges prepaid to:
Betsy A. McLane, PhD
Showcase
Director
3801
University Avenue
Suite
260
Riverside,
CA 92501
For
more information visit www.ufva.org/showcase
Any
questions not addressed above should be directed to:
betsymclane@documentarydiva.com
Read more about the 2009 American Documentary Showcase program here.
ITVS Funding Opportunity for Filmmakers of Color
ITVS seeks producers of color to develop single documentary programs for public television. The Diversity Development Fund (DDF) provides up to $15,000 for project research and development. Activities may include travel, scripting, preliminary production for fundraising/work-in-progress reels, or other early phase activities. Projects should speak to the ITVS mission to serve underserved audiences, explore complex issues, inspire dialogue and express points of view seldom seen on commercial or public television.
http://www.itvs.org/producers/funding.html
Deadline: September 25, 2009.
An Afternoon with George Stoney
September 26th
2:30pm
National Gallery of Art
Washington DC
Free!
The Center for Social Mediainvestigates, showcases and sets standards for socially engaged media making. We organize conferences and convenings, publish research, create codes of best practices, and incubate media strategies. The Center is a part of American University's School of Communications.
OnSept. 26th at 2:30 pm, I'll be lucky enough to talk with George Stoney at the National Gallery of Art's main theater--incidentally the finest screening room in Washington DC. I invite you to join me there (it's free, by the way) if you're in the area, and if not, you can read the blog post I wrote explaining why George Stoney is one of the field's treasures.
At 93 years old, filmmaker George Stoney could be a piece of our filmic heritage, and that would be enough. But he's not putting up with that. George is still teaching (at New York University), making films (as always, with collaborators), and keeping a close eye on the issues of the day. Here's more on the highlights of George's career. I hope you will
join me on the 26th if you can. You won't meet his like again.
Thanks,
Pat Aufderheide
Center for Social Media
Scott's latest feature-length documentary The Garden, about the struggle of farmers in South Central Los Angeles to keep their 14-acre community garden, was nominated for a 2009 Academy Award for Best Documentary feature. Find out more about the movie at www.thegardenmovie.com
At its world premiere at the prestigious AFI Silverdocs film festival, The Garden won best documentary, and went on to garner rave reviews from the likes of Kenneth Turan of the L.A. Times who wrote: “Excellent! Its lessons about the levers of power and politics, and how easy it is to get co-opted, are relevant everywhere. The Garden is a potent human drama.”
Scott’s debut documentary, OT: Our Town, tells the amazing underdog story about the first play in twenty years at Dominguez High in Compton, California, and their attempt--with no stage, money or theatre experience--to produce Thornton Wilder's American classic Out Town. OT garnered rave reviews.
The Garden and OT are currently available for sale and rental at Vidiots. For more information call 310-392-8508
Admission is Free
Vidiots will host Scott for a screening of clips from his Academy Award nominated documentary, The Garden, followed by a question and answer session.
Scott's latest feature-length documentary The Garden, about the struggle of farmers in South Central Los Angeles to keep their 14 acre community garden, the largest in the U.S., was nominated for a 2009 Academy Award for Best Documentary feature. (thegardenmovie.com) At its world premier at the prestigious AFI Silverdocs film festival, The Garden won best documentary, and went on to garner rave reviews from the likes of Kenneth Turan of the L.A. Times who wrote: "Excellent! Its lessons about the levers of power and politics, and how easy it is to get co-opted, are relevant everywhere. The Garden is a potent human drama."
Scott's debut documentary, OT: Our Town, tells the amazing underdog story about the first play in twenty years at Dominguez High in Compton, California, and their attempt - with no stage, money or theatre experience - to produce Thornton Wilder's American classic OUR TOWN. OT garnered rave reviews.
The Garden and OT are currently available for sale and rental at Vidiots. For more information call 310-392-8508
Admission is Free
www.vidiotsvideo.com www.thegardenmovie.com
Premieres Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 10PM (check local listings)
All films in the series screen at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Academy's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., except for the IMAX presentations on December 9. The filmmakers will be present at screenings whenever possible. Admission for all screenings is free.
Wednesday, September 30, at 7 p.m.
MAN ON WIRE
Directed by James Marsh
Produced by Simon Chinn
In 1974, Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York's twin towers, in a feat that became known as "the artistic crime of the century." Petit and some of his co-conspirators recall this extraordinary adventure in this Oscar-winning documentary. 35mm. 94 mins.
Academy Award winner: Documentary Feature
IN A DREAM
Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
Produced by Jeremy Yaches
Over the past four decades, artist Isaiah Zagar has covered Philadelphia with mosaic murals. "In a Dream" chronicles this work and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, as a new chapter in their life unfolds. Digital. 78 mins.
The 28th annual Contemporary Documentaries series is a showcase for feature-length and short documentaries drawn from the 2008 Academy Award® nominations, including the winners, as well as other important and innovative films considered by the Academy that year.
The filmmakers will be present at screenings whenever possible. Admission for all screenings is free.
Wednesday, September 30, at 7 p.m.
MAN ON WIRE
Directed by James Marsh
Produced by Simon Chinn
In 1974, Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York's twin towers, in a feat that became known as "the artistic crime of the century." Petit and some of his co-conspirators recall this extraordinary adventure in this Oscar®-winning documentary. 35mm. 94 mins.
Academy Award winner: Documentary Feature
IN A DREAM
Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
Produced by Jeremy Yaches
Over the past four decades, artist Isaiah Zagar has covered Philadelphia with mosaic murals. "In a Dream" chronicles this work and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, as a new chapter in their life unfolds. Digital. 78 mins.
31st Annual Aspen Filmfest, Sept 30 - Oct 4, 2009
August 10, 2009 (Aspen, Colo.) - September in Aspen brings two highly anticipated events: The aspen trees turn luminously gold, and Aspen Filmfest lights up the silver screen with a five-day film festival of must-see movies and events.
Celebrating three decades of bringing international and independent film and filmmakers to this mountain region, Aspen Filmfest September 30 - October 4, will showcase award-winning features and documentaries making a name for themselves on the festival circuit, as well as previews of new fall releases and guest appearances. "For thirty years, we've been building our audience by presenting the best films available. Seeing wonderful features and documentaries that run the gamut of content and emotion in such a spectacular setting attracts movie lovers with eclectic tastes who relish experiencing film in an inspiring environment. We simply open the door so they can step into the magic of cinema." noted Aspen Film's Executive Director, Laura Thielen.
While the full program will not be announced until Labor Day weekend, Aspen Filmfest announces three critically-acclaimed, multiple award winning titles: Lee Daniel's powerful an inspiring PRECIOUS, from Lone Scherfig's evocative British import AN EDUCATION, and Kristopher Belman's adrenaline-infused MORE THAN A GAME.
PRECIOUS (USA) 2009
Director: Lee Daniels (Producer MONSTER'S BALL)
Cast: Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe, Mo'Nique , Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, and Sherri Shepherd
A compelling, redemptive story of Precious Jones, a teenage girl in Harlem struggling to overcome unimaginable obstacles and discover her own voice.
Awards: Sundance Grand Jury Prize: U.S.- Dramatic; Sundance Audience Award; Special Jury Prize for Acting to Mo'nique;
AN EDUCATION (United Kingdom) 2009
Director:Lone Scherfig Writer: Nick Hornby
Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike, Carey Mulligan
In the early 60's, a sharp 16-year-old with her sights set on Oxford meets a handsome older man whose sophistication enraptures and sidetracks both her and her parents.
Awards: 2009 Sundance Audience Award World Cinema - Dramatic; 2009 Sundance Cinematography Award World Cinema - Dramatic
MORE THAN A GAME (USA) 2009
Director / Writer / Producer: Kristopher Belman - in attendance
Cast: Lebron James, Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton, Willie McGee
A true-life coming of age documentary about five talented young basketball players featuring future NBA star, LeBron James and a charismatic but inexperienced coach from Akron, Ohio, who overcome the odds and uncommon adversities to end up on the doorstep of the National High School Championships.
Awards: 2009 SilverDocs Audience Award
Aspen Film will take place in Aspen at the Wheeler Opera House and the Isis Theatre, as well as in Carbondale at the Crystal Theatre. Aspen Filmfest's full program is scheduled for release Labor Day Weekend. Tickets go on sale September 21 at Aspen Show Tickets at the Wheeler Opera House, online at aspenshowtickets.com or call (970) 920 5770. For more information, visit www.aspenfilm.org or call (970) 925 6882.
Aspen Filmfest is made possible in part by The City of Aspen, The Aspen Times, Aspen Peak, Aspen Public Radio and REEL PEOPLE, Aspen Film's membership program.