What do you get when you combine a network focused on green issues and a former Sundance Channel EVP/GM? A new, weekly block of documentary programming focused on the environment. Under the stewardship of president and general manager Laura Michalchyshyn, Discovery Communication's Planet Green is launching "Reel Impact," a two-hour chunk of non-fiction programming that will feature a combo of new and classic titles. "Reel Impact" kicks off on September 12th with the television debut of The Last Beekeeper by director Jeremy Simmons. Additonal titles to air include No Impact Man ( Laura Gabbert and Eden Wurmfeld), The 11th Hour, An Inconvenient Truth and Barbara Ettinger’s film A Sea Change. In the coming weeks and months, Planet Green plans to acquire twenty or more additional films to fill the "Reel Impact" slate.
When the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television class of 2009 celebrated their commencement on June 12th, they were treated to an appearance by Haskell Wexler. The legendary cinematographer recieved the UCLA Medal, the university's highest honor, at the ceremony. UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block stated in his citation to Wexler, “You are a bold and courageous artist whose legendary contributions to cinematography span six decades. Through acclaimed motion pictures and grippingly honest documentary films, you have advanced the artistry of filmmaking, illuminated social truths and championed human rights in your industry and beyond." Wexler was the recipient of the 2006 International Documentary Association Career Achievement Award.
Turns out that for the 25th anniversary of the Sundance Film Festival, the state of Utah got a present, too! The 2009 Sundance Film Festival generated an overall economic impact of a record $92.1 million for the state, as determined by the University of Utah’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the David Eccles School of Business (BEBR). According to the study, 40,291 festival attendees spent $34,579,698 on accommodations, $14,976,306 on meals, $4,693,682 on transportation, and $4,015,870 on discretionary items, among other expenditures. Those figures don't include spending on airfare; private dinners, parties and receptions held by
the film industry, Festival sponsors or other entities without
affiliation to Sundance Institute. Hmmm, so where do the swag gifting suites fit into the picture?
In other festival news, the American Film Institute and the Dallas Film Society are parting ways, which means the end of the 3-year old AFI Dallas International Film Festival. The 2010 fest will be re-branded as the Dallas International Film Festival. (via indieWIRE)