Veteran editor Laura Israel makes her feature documentary directing debut with Windfall, about a controversy that engulfed her community of Meredith, New York. A few years back, Israel and her neighbors were startled to learn that plans were afoot to install 40 400-foot-high wind turbines around the town—not in a vast open area, but on farmland, near homes. Suddenly, Meredith was divided between the local politicians and farmers who were touting the economic opportunities of wind power, and concerned citizens bearing Googled reports on the environmental impact of the sound, the shadow-flicker, and the turbines’ sheer size and weight ...
- 2/2/2012
- avclub.com
Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers? Tatsumi Trailer "Yoshihiro Tatsumi is a mangaka known for his gekiga style of alternate Japanese manga." Wish I knew what that meant. Director Eric Khoo...
- 1/21/2012
- by Christopher Stipp
- Slash Film
Getty Alec Baldwin
The Hamptons International Film Festival kicks off today and runs until Monday, Oct. 17. The festival, now in its 19th year, includes programs such as conversations with personalities, and draws about 18,000 people each year, according to Executive Director Karen Arikian. Films will be shown in East Hampton, Southampton, Montauk, Sag Harbor, and Westhampton.
“What distinguishes us from other festivals is we’re located in a very incredibly beautiful spot,” Arikian told Speakeasy. “During the fall, it’s very loose and informal.
The Hamptons International Film Festival kicks off today and runs until Monday, Oct. 17. The festival, now in its 19th year, includes programs such as conversations with personalities, and draws about 18,000 people each year, according to Executive Director Karen Arikian. Films will be shown in East Hampton, Southampton, Montauk, Sag Harbor, and Westhampton.
“What distinguishes us from other festivals is we’re located in a very incredibly beautiful spot,” Arikian told Speakeasy. “During the fall, it’s very loose and informal.
- 10/13/2011
- by Barbara Chai
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Justin Lerner's coming of age story about a man with Down's Syndrome, "Girlfriend," won the jury award for best narrative feature and the "Best of the Fest" in the audience category at the 20th Woods Hole Film Festival. Also taking winning accolades was Laura Israel's "Windfall," taking the jury award for best documentary. The film centers on the rural town of Meredith, NY NY who grow increasingly alarmed as they ...
- 8/8/2011
- Indiewire
Durham, N.C. - During lunch a filmmaker tells me that of all the festivals he’s attended with his movies, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is the only one he wants to attend as a spectator. He enjoys how the various screens and activities aren’t spread all over the city. There’s a relaxed atmosphere as the festival-goers aren’t hustling hard to get tickets to sold out screenings. It’s a sweet Southern festival in the middle of Tobacco Road. Even the world’s biggest superstar just hangs out with the festival goers inside of hiding behind a wall of security.
Who is the superstar? Elmo! And we have an exclusive chat with him at the end of this column.
The film selection was once more top notch. An ample number of documentaries received their world debut in Durham. There were a few films that had built a buzz at Sundance,...
Who is the superstar? Elmo! And we have an exclusive chat with him at the end of this column.
The film selection was once more top notch. An ample number of documentaries received their world debut in Durham. There were a few films that had built a buzz at Sundance,...
- 5/20/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
The Independent Film Festival of Boston (IFFBoston) kicks off this Wednesday, and has a number of impressive films in its line-up. The festival will take place at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, and the Stuart Street Playhouse in downtown Boston. The festival, complete with over 110 film screenings, filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, visiting filmmakers, parties and events will showcase the best in current American and International cinema.
The opening night film of the festival is Being Elmo directed by Constance Marks will open the 9th annual festival on April 27th at the Somerville Theatre. This marks the first time the festival will open with a documentary. The film follows Kevin Clash, from humble upbringings as he follows his dream to become a puppeteer and one day work with his idol, Jim Henson, to the present day...
The opening night film of the festival is Being Elmo directed by Constance Marks will open the 9th annual festival on April 27th at the Somerville Theatre. This marks the first time the festival will open with a documentary. The film follows Kevin Clash, from humble upbringings as he follows his dream to become a puppeteer and one day work with his idol, Jim Henson, to the present day...
- 4/26/2011
- by Kristen Coates
- The Film Stage
The Independent Film Festival of Boston [1] recently released their full line-up and it's a doozy. Sundance favorites such as The Future [2] and Submarine [3] will be there, along with awesome documentaries like Being Elmo [4] (With Elmo In Attendance!!!) and Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times [5]. I'm looking forward to films I wasn't able to catch at Sundance and SXSW, such as the legal documentary Hot Coffee, the heartbreaking How to Die in Oregon, and the new fascinating Conan O'Brien film. Takashi Miike's 13 Assassins [6] also looks like it will rock the house. The full line-up is below. The festival is April 27th through May 4th, and it's one of my favorite movie events of the year. If you live anywhere in New England, I invite you to come and check it out. You can follow IFFBoston on Facebook for updates [7] or buy your passes now [8]! Narrative Features 13 Assassins...
- 3/25/2011
- by David Chen
- Slash Film
Since launching the weekly Futures column back in April, indieWIRE has profiled a crop of up and comers in the independent film world worth getting to know. This Fall saw a fresh slate of new faces make the cut, running the gamut from a child actor ("Let Me In" star Kodi Smit McPhee) to an established director making a bid for the director's chair ("Windfall" director Laura Israel). Among indieWIRE's ...
- 12/17/2010
- Indiewire
Since launching the weekly Futures column back in April, indieWIRE has profiled a crop of up and comers in the independent film world worth getting to know. This Fall saw a fresh slate of new faces make the cut, running the gamut from a child actor ("Let Me In" star Kodi Smit McPhee) to an established director making a bid for the director's chair ("Windfall" director Laura Israel). Among indieWIRE's ...
- 12/17/2010
- indieWIRE - People
Wind energy is in vogue these days, so perhaps it comes as a surprise that someone would take on a clean energy source. But that is in fact what first-time director Laura Israel does in her doc "Windfall," which had its European premiere at the recent International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (Idfa) after debuting earlier in the year in Toronto and Woodstock. The New York City resident actually had initially ...
- 12/10/2010
- indieWIRE - People
Wind energy is in vogue these days, so perhaps it comes as a surprise that someone would take on a clean energy source. But that is in fact what first-time director Laura Israel does in her doc "Windfall," which had its European premiere at the recent International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (Idfa) after debuting earlier in the year in Toronto and Woodstock. The New York City resident actually had initially ...
- 12/10/2010
- Indiewire
Wind energy is in vogue these days, so perhaps it comes as a surprise that someone would take on a clean energy source in a negative context. But that is in fact what first-time director Laura Israel does in her doc "Windfall," which had its European premiere at the recent International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (Idfa) after debuting earlier in the year in Toronto and Woodstock. The New York City ...
- 12/10/2010
- indieWIRE - People
Laura Israel's Windfall Press Release: Doc NYC, New York's documentary festival, now in the midst of its inaugural year, announces its award winners the night of Sunday, November 7th at the festival's gala screening of Errol Morris's new film Tabloid at Nyu's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Prizes were awarded by juries in both the "Viewfinders" and "Metropolis" sections; festival audiences also selected an official Doc NsYC Audience Award. Doc NYC takes place at IFC Center the Ziegfeld Theatre and at New York University venues; the event began on Wednesday November 3 and continues through November 9th with encore screenings of the competition films and award-winners, as well as a tribute to acclaimed film historian and filmmaker Kevin Brownlow. Windfall was awarded the Grand Jury Prize in the Viewfinders section, which showcases filmmakers with a distinct directorial voice in a lineup of eight features, including two world premieres,...
- 11/8/2010
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Laura Israel's "Windfall" received the Grand Jury Prize in the Viewfinders section at the inaugural Doc NYC over the weekend, capping the new documentary film festival in New York City, which closed with a screening of Errol Morris's latest, "Tabloid" at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. "Windfall" explores the darker side of “green” energy through the tale of one upstate town. In Doc NYC's “Metropolis” section, ...
- 11/8/2010
- Indiewire
In some rural communities, arguments are brewing. Energy companies are renting and buying space to erect 40-story windmills to generate electricity. It seems like an easy financial windfall for some -- get paid for doing nothing. But there are concerns: how do the machines affect wildlife, and the quality of human life? And is the equation fair to the townspeople? The documentary Windfall, which premieres soon at the Toronto Film Festival, looks at the impact windmills had on a small town of Meredith, New York, where first-time director Laura Israel was a resident. There are two trailers available for the film, and the latest one is really striking in the way it puts together images of the town cowering under the windmills. It's pure energy infrastructure horror. The Wall Street Journal talked to Israel, who said, "I went through the same process myself as they did in the film...First,...
- 9/10/2010
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Reviewed at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival.
There's little doubt Ondi Timoner's "Cool It" will grab most of the headlines at Toronto as the documentary to question the validity of global warming, but that might work in the favor of "Windfall," a film that's equally skeptical, yet wouldn't benefit from high expectations.
Part of the charm of the debut doc from Laura Israel, an editor for the likes of Ed Lachman and Robert Frank in recent years, is the fact that it sneaks up on you, nearly as unassuming in its start as the farming town of Meredith, NY where the closest thing to conflict is the theft of a sign shaped like a cow by some local teens.
Save for Israel and cinematography Brian Jackson's vivid depiction of Meredith's landscape and the twang of electric guitars that serve as its score, the film's opening promises sped-up shots of...
There's little doubt Ondi Timoner's "Cool It" will grab most of the headlines at Toronto as the documentary to question the validity of global warming, but that might work in the favor of "Windfall," a film that's equally skeptical, yet wouldn't benefit from high expectations.
Part of the charm of the debut doc from Laura Israel, an editor for the likes of Ed Lachman and Robert Frank in recent years, is the fact that it sneaks up on you, nearly as unassuming in its start as the farming town of Meredith, NY where the closest thing to conflict is the theft of a sign shaped like a cow by some local teens.
Save for Israel and cinematography Brian Jackson's vivid depiction of Meredith's landscape and the twang of electric guitars that serve as its score, the film's opening promises sped-up shots of...
- 9/8/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Rachel Weisz in The Whistleblower The Toronto International Film Festival has added even more films to their line-up today as the complete line-up was announced, which ended up causing the festival's server to crash, but I was lucky enough to get in and get out before missing out on the information.
First off, the festival's Mavericks line-up is quite interesting, which includes a series of guest presentations and this year will see Edward Norton interview Bruce Springsteen, NBA All-Star and native Canadian Steve Nash will present his hour-long film Into the Wind, Apichatpong Weerasethakul will talk with the audience as his Cannes Palm d'Or-winning film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall his Past Lives was just added to the Masters programme, Ken Loach and Paul Laverty will be interviewed by Michael Moore on politics and cinema and Philip Seymour Hoffman will have his own panel. Also on hand will be Bill Gates,...
First off, the festival's Mavericks line-up is quite interesting, which includes a series of guest presentations and this year will see Edward Norton interview Bruce Springsteen, NBA All-Star and native Canadian Steve Nash will present his hour-long film Into the Wind, Apichatpong Weerasethakul will talk with the audience as his Cannes Palm d'Or-winning film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall his Past Lives was just added to the Masters programme, Ken Loach and Paul Laverty will be interviewed by Michael Moore on politics and cinema and Philip Seymour Hoffman will have his own panel. Also on hand will be Bill Gates,...
- 8/24/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The organizers at the Toronto International Film Festival have put together one hell of an impressive line-up that has grown significantly since my first list announcing the Galas and Special Presentations, a pair of lists that have also grown since then.
The lists have grown to include Massy Tadjedin's Last Night starring Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes and Guillaume Canet, which will serve as the closing night film.
It's also grown to include Danny Boyle's 127 Hours starring James Franco. Boyle recently spoke about the film at Movie Con and told the audience there it may be a challenge to watch saying, "It's a lovely way of doing a new kind of filmmaking, really. We want it to be a challenge to you [the audience] to see if you can sit and watch it."
In the film Franco plays real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston who ended up trapped under a...
The lists have grown to include Massy Tadjedin's Last Night starring Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes and Guillaume Canet, which will serve as the closing night film.
It's also grown to include Danny Boyle's 127 Hours starring James Franco. Boyle recently spoke about the film at Movie Con and told the audience there it may be a challenge to watch saying, "It's a lovely way of doing a new kind of filmmaking, really. We want it to be a challenge to you [the audience] to see if you can sit and watch it."
In the film Franco plays real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston who ended up trapped under a...
- 8/17/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
As I've said in the past, I am not someone to rush out and watch a ton of documentaries, even though I love nearly every single one I see. So, when today's list of 23 documentaries that will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival was announced I didn't exactly rush to check it out, although now upon giving it a once over I see there is a lot to look out for.
As for the obvious titles that are sure to generate the most buzz you have Werner Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams, which follows Herzog inside the Chauvet caves of southern France where he uses 3D technology to take us back in time over 30,000 years. I saw most of Charles Ferguson's Inside Job at Cannes, but couldn't keep my eyes open and had to bail before it ended and I am anxious to check out Alex Gibney...
As for the obvious titles that are sure to generate the most buzz you have Werner Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams, which follows Herzog inside the Chauvet caves of southern France where he uses 3D technology to take us back in time over 30,000 years. I saw most of Charles Ferguson's Inside Job at Cannes, but couldn't keep my eyes open and had to bail before it ended and I am anxious to check out Alex Gibney...
- 8/4/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Toronto International Film Festival will be celebrating its 35th year this September and we announced the first batch of big premieres last week. Some highlights included Darren Aronofsky‘s Black Swan, Robert Redford‘s The Conspirator, John Madden‘s The Debt, Tom Hooper‘s The King’s Speech, and Mark Romanek‘s Never Let Me Go. Today we get the documentary slate, which looks to have a fantastic line-up. Check out the press release below.
For Immediate Release
August 4, 2010
Errol Morris, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Longinotto And Werner Herzog (In 3-D!) Lead A Line-up Of Documentary All-stars
Toronto – The Toronto International Film Festival proudly presents a veritable who’s who of documentary filmmaking as Errol Morris explores a woman’s bizarre search for one true love in Tabloid, Thom Zimny reveals Bruce Springsteen’s creative process in The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, Kim Longinotto...
For Immediate Release
August 4, 2010
Errol Morris, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Longinotto And Werner Herzog (In 3-D!) Lead A Line-up Of Documentary All-stars
Toronto – The Toronto International Film Festival proudly presents a veritable who’s who of documentary filmmaking as Errol Morris explores a woman’s bizarre search for one true love in Tabloid, Thom Zimny reveals Bruce Springsteen’s creative process in The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, Kim Longinotto...
- 8/4/2010
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: A dose of reality out of Toronto this morning as Tiff organizers verified a list of documentaries that would be playing this year’s film fest, scheduled for Sept. 9-19.
The full press release is below, but names that will jump out at you include Errol Morris, Werner Herzog, Alex Gibney, Charles Ferguson, Mark Hartley, and more.
“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to program a documentary line-up with so many acclaimed filmmakers this year,” said Thom Powers, Tiff programmer. “From Oscar winners and nominees to Emmy award-winners, these talented filmmakers have created works that will be debated and discussed for months to come. They reinvigorate our thinking about subjects like the war in Afghanistan, the banking crisis, and the future of energy.”
So far, this year’s Tiff is shaping up to be something special. Look for complete coverage of the festival on Hollywood News.
Hollywoodnews.com: A dose of reality out of Toronto this morning as Tiff organizers verified a list of documentaries that would be playing this year’s film fest, scheduled for Sept. 9-19.
The full press release is below, but names that will jump out at you include Errol Morris, Werner Herzog, Alex Gibney, Charles Ferguson, Mark Hartley, and more.
“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to program a documentary line-up with so many acclaimed filmmakers this year,” said Thom Powers, Tiff programmer. “From Oscar winners and nominees to Emmy award-winners, these talented filmmakers have created works that will be debated and discussed for months to come. They reinvigorate our thinking about subjects like the war in Afghanistan, the banking crisis, and the future of energy.”
So far, this year’s Tiff is shaping up to be something special. Look for complete coverage of the festival on Hollywood News.
- 8/4/2010
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
You want diversity? Look no farther than the documentary programs at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Freshly announced, the program includes premieres from some of the biggest names in the film world - Errol Morris, Naomi Kawase and Werner Herzog among them - alongside profiles of Bruce Springsteen and a heaping helping of Filipino B-film. Here's the full announcement:
Errol Morris, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Longinotto And
Werner Herzog (In 3-D!) Lead A Line-up Of Documentary All-stars
Toronto - The Toronto International Film Festival proudly presents a veritable who's who of documentary filmmaking as Errol Morris
explores a woman's bizarre search for one true love in Tabloid, Thom Zimny reveals Bruce Springsteen's creative process in The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, Kim Longinotto tracks an Indian feminist group in Pink Saris, and Werner Herzog films humankind's earliest known images in 3-D in Cave of Forgotten Dreams.
Errol Morris, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Longinotto And
Werner Herzog (In 3-D!) Lead A Line-up Of Documentary All-stars
Toronto - The Toronto International Film Festival proudly presents a veritable who's who of documentary filmmaking as Errol Morris
explores a woman's bizarre search for one true love in Tabloid, Thom Zimny reveals Bruce Springsteen's creative process in The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, Kim Longinotto tracks an Indian feminist group in Pink Saris, and Werner Herzog films humankind's earliest known images in 3-D in Cave of Forgotten Dreams.
- 8/4/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Here’s the list of 25 documentaries announced today:
Galas
The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town
Thom Zimny, USA World Premiere
The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town takes us into the studio with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for the recording of their fourth album. Grammy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny has collaborated with Springsteen on this documentary, gaining access to never before seen footage shot between 1976-1978, capturing home rehearsals and recording sessions that allow us to see Springsteen’s creative process at work.
Masters
Erotic Man
Jørgen Leth, Denmark
Danish master Jørgen Leth travels the globe in this sensual, provocative and sometimes autobiographical essay film about a man struggling to come to terms with his past choices and his decision to leave a lover.
Nostalgia for the Light
Patricio Guzmán, France/Germany/Chile North American Premiere
In Chile’s Atacama Desert,...
Galas
The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town
Thom Zimny, USA World Premiere
The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town takes us into the studio with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for the recording of their fourth album. Grammy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny has collaborated with Springsteen on this documentary, gaining access to never before seen footage shot between 1976-1978, capturing home rehearsals and recording sessions that allow us to see Springsteen’s creative process at work.
Masters
Erotic Man
Jørgen Leth, Denmark
Danish master Jørgen Leth travels the globe in this sensual, provocative and sometimes autobiographical essay film about a man struggling to come to terms with his past choices and his decision to leave a lover.
Nostalgia for the Light
Patricio Guzmán, France/Germany/Chile North American Premiere
In Chile’s Atacama Desert,...
- 8/4/2010
- by tiffreviews
- TIFFReviews
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