Director and cinematographer Goro Toshima doesn't set out to find individuals on the margins of society. He's drawn to telling the stories of those whom he connects with personally. This tendency is highlighted in the way he began his most recent documentary short, Broken Doors: after reading an article in LA Weekly about a homeless youth named Rico, Toshima set out to find him with no plans or intentions other than speaking with him. Thankfully, he did plan enough to bring his camera. What followed this initial meeting was six months of trust between subject and filmmaker as Rico allowed
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'Bill T. Jones: A Good Man' premieres November 11 on PBS' 'American Masters.'
For the past 20 years, the town of Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, has been home to the renowned Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF), a showcase coveted by many documentary filmmakers as a good proving ground for their films. The primary venue for the festival, the Malco Theatre, was proclaimed the gateway to the entertainment district of downtown Hot Springs when it opened in 1946, and every third week in October, it becomes the heart of what has been ranked among the best small art towns in America. "The venue of a film festival is one of the most important aspects for a
Helmrich's 'Position Among the Stars' is nominated for a Humanitas Documentary Award.
Over the next few weeks, we at IDA will be introducing our community to the filmmakers whose work will be represented in the DocuWeek TM Theatrical Documentary Showcase, August 18-24. We asked the filmmakers to share the stories behind their films--the inspirations, the challenges and obstacles, the goals and objectives, the reactions to their films so far. So, to continue this series of conversations, here is Karina Epperlein, director/producer of Phoenix Dance. Synopsis: It seems impossible, but after losing a leg to cancer, accomplished dancer Homer Avila returns to the stage without
Camden International Film Festival: A Case Study
Even when the economy is robust, documentary funding is hard to come by. So, during these tough times, when a major research nonprofit organization like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) announces a $60 million initiative for science-oriented documentary features, it's a moment to celebrate. "Film is the most powerful medium for bringing ideas, knowledge and stories to life and communicating them to any audience," said Sean B. Carroll, HHMI's vice president for science education, when he announced the project in Los Angeles this past February at the Summit on Science, Entertainment
On the divide between nature/wildlife filmmakers and human nature filmmakers.
On tax issues...and two deaths in the documentary family.
From Robin Neinstein's Souvenir of Canada Last year's Toronto International Film Festival took place one month before the US presidential election, and the tone was immediate, energized and intense. This rippled through the documentary programming, which featured many films that seemed to be direct, rapid responses to current events. One year later, the flavor at the 2005 TIFF was noticeably more reflective, with a number of documentaries dealing with issues of spirituality, identity and globalization. It was as though filmmakers were going beyond reporting just what was happening around the