Dave Lawrie Aug 4, 2017
Blackfish, The Act Of Killing - we celebrate the great documentaries distributed by the UK's Dogwoof...
Did you know that around 20 percent of the films released in the UK are documentaries? It’s a surprisingly large figure. I think the reason behind it might be that ‘documentary’ is considered to be a genre in and of itself. “And the Academy Award for best documentary feature goes to…”. They're all lumped into the same bracket. Also, they're relatively cheap to make and can be assembled independently by a team of only a few people. Success at the box office is often down on the priorities list for creators wanting to spread a message, tell a story or get a point across and, when they only need to recoup that small amount to be considered successful, documentary cinema becomes fertile ground for ambitions to grow in.
See related Preacher...
Blackfish, The Act Of Killing - we celebrate the great documentaries distributed by the UK's Dogwoof...
Did you know that around 20 percent of the films released in the UK are documentaries? It’s a surprisingly large figure. I think the reason behind it might be that ‘documentary’ is considered to be a genre in and of itself. “And the Academy Award for best documentary feature goes to…”. They're all lumped into the same bracket. Also, they're relatively cheap to make and can be assembled independently by a team of only a few people. Success at the box office is often down on the priorities list for creators wanting to spread a message, tell a story or get a point across and, when they only need to recoup that small amount to be considered successful, documentary cinema becomes fertile ground for ambitions to grow in.
See related Preacher...
- 8/3/2017
- Den of Geek
Cinema Eye has named 10 filmmakers and 20 films that have been voted as the top achievements in documentary filmmaking during the past 10 years. Founded in 2007 to “recognize and honor exemplary craft and innovation in nonfiction film,” Cinema Eye polled 110 members of the documentary community to determine the winning films and filmmakers just as the organization kicks off its tenth year.
Read More: Behind the Scenes of Cinema Eye’s Secret Field Trip for Nominees
Among the films chosen are Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The Act of Killing,” Laura Poitras’ Oscar-winning “Citizenfour” and Banksy’s “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Poitras and Oppenheimer were both also named to the list of the top documentary filmmakers, joining Alex Gibney, Werner Herzog and Frederick Wiseman, who recently won an honorary Oscar and will be saluted at the annual Governors Awards on November 12.
“It’s fantastic that he is being recognized by the Academy for a...
Read More: Behind the Scenes of Cinema Eye’s Secret Field Trip for Nominees
Among the films chosen are Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The Act of Killing,” Laura Poitras’ Oscar-winning “Citizenfour” and Banksy’s “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Poitras and Oppenheimer were both also named to the list of the top documentary filmmakers, joining Alex Gibney, Werner Herzog and Frederick Wiseman, who recently won an honorary Oscar and will be saluted at the annual Governors Awards on November 12.
“It’s fantastic that he is being recognized by the Academy for a...
- 9/21/2016
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Istanbul event will host a total of 23 gala screenings, including the latest films from Charlie Kaufman and Jean-Marc Vallee, as well as a David Bowie tribute programme.Scroll down for the full line-up
!f Istanbul Independent Film Festival has revealed its programme for the 2016 edition (February 18-28).
Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa, which premiered at Telluride last year, and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Demolition, which opened the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, will open and close the festival respectively.
!f Istanbul - in its 15th edition - will host screenings, competitions and events dedicated to bringing the best of independent film to the Turkish city.
Other gala presentations will include Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash, Gaspar Noé’s Love 3D, Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room and Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s BAFTA-nominated The Assassin.
In memory of the late musician David Bowie, the festival will show remastered versions of his films The Man Who Fell To Earth and The Hunger...
!f Istanbul Independent Film Festival has revealed its programme for the 2016 edition (February 18-28).
Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa, which premiered at Telluride last year, and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Demolition, which opened the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, will open and close the festival respectively.
!f Istanbul - in its 15th edition - will host screenings, competitions and events dedicated to bringing the best of independent film to the Turkish city.
Other gala presentations will include Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash, Gaspar Noé’s Love 3D, Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room and Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s BAFTA-nominated The Assassin.
In memory of the late musician David Bowie, the festival will show remastered versions of his films The Man Who Fell To Earth and The Hunger...
- 1/29/2016
- ScreenDaily
Waiting For Tonight: Goded Finds Friends in Circle of Sex Workers
Having spent the last 20 years visiting Mexico and the notoriously dangerous streets of the La Merced district in search of raw and revealing still images, the renowned photographer Maya Goded has developed a close connection with the tight-knit community of miraculous women who’ve made a lifelong career of prostitution, despite the risks and emotional tumult inherent to the job. Much like the book of Goded’s photos published under the same title back in 2006, Plaza de la Soledad, which translates as Loneliness Square, the photographer-turned-filmmaker’s first foray into the documentary feature form reveals an intense, and ultimately moving sense of trust between her and her subjects, while painting a portrait of modern Mexico less haunted by drug cartel than survived by average people just struggling to find some semblance of happiness.
With an endearing sense of reverence,...
Having spent the last 20 years visiting Mexico and the notoriously dangerous streets of the La Merced district in search of raw and revealing still images, the renowned photographer Maya Goded has developed a close connection with the tight-knit community of miraculous women who’ve made a lifelong career of prostitution, despite the risks and emotional tumult inherent to the job. Much like the book of Goded’s photos published under the same title back in 2006, Plaza de la Soledad, which translates as Loneliness Square, the photographer-turned-filmmaker’s first foray into the documentary feature form reveals an intense, and ultimately moving sense of trust between her and her subjects, while painting a portrait of modern Mexico less haunted by drug cartel than survived by average people just struggling to find some semblance of happiness.
With an endearing sense of reverence,...
- 1/24/2016
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
Find out what made our top 10 films of 2015 - and which films racked up the most mentions from Team Screen.Scroll down for Screen’s overall top 10
Screen’s esteemed critics have had their turn. Now, Screen staff, contributors and correspondents reveal their favourite films of 2015.
Matt Mueller (Editor)
Force Majeure (dir. Ruben Ostlund)Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller)The Look Of Silence (dir. Joshua Oppenheimer)The Revenant (dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)Amy (dir. Asif Kapadia)Sunset Song (dir. Terence Davies)Tangerine (dir. Sean Baker)The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)Anomalisa (dirs. Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman)Michael Rosser (Managing editor)
Son Of Saul (dir. Laszlo Nemes)Star Wars: The Force Awakens (dir. Jj Abrams)Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)Room (dir. Lenny Abrahamson)The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)Inside Out (dirs. Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen)Amy (dir. Asif Kapadia)45 Years (dir. Andrew Haigh)Slow West (dir. John Maclean)[link=tt...
Screen’s esteemed critics have had their turn. Now, Screen staff, contributors and correspondents reveal their favourite films of 2015.
Matt Mueller (Editor)
Force Majeure (dir. Ruben Ostlund)Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller)The Look Of Silence (dir. Joshua Oppenheimer)The Revenant (dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)Amy (dir. Asif Kapadia)Sunset Song (dir. Terence Davies)Tangerine (dir. Sean Baker)The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)Anomalisa (dirs. Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman)Michael Rosser (Managing editor)
Son Of Saul (dir. Laszlo Nemes)Star Wars: The Force Awakens (dir. Jj Abrams)Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)Room (dir. Lenny Abrahamson)The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)Inside Out (dirs. Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen)Amy (dir. Asif Kapadia)45 Years (dir. Andrew Haigh)Slow West (dir. John Maclean)[link=tt...
- 12/23/2015
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Feature documentary made by the Australian director of Sherpa [pictured].
Documentary specialist Dogwoof has snapped up UK rights and international sales on Australian feature documentary Mountain, the latest feature from much-feted filmmaker Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa).
Dogwoof International Sales is co-repping the film with Submarine in the Us. Australian and New Zealand rights have already gone to Madman. German rights have gone to Dcm.
The film, which features the music of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, is billed as a “cinematic musical about the meaning of mountains for different people and for society”.
Mountain is in production and will be ready by late 2016. Dogwoof is looking to clinch pre-sales on the film.
Cartel Land
The news of the Mountain pick-up comes as Dogwoof continues to do roaring trade on its Mexican narco doc Cartel Land.
The film, tipped to be an Oscar contender, has been sold to Australia (Madman), Germany (Dcm) and has been a major hit on iTunes...
Documentary specialist Dogwoof has snapped up UK rights and international sales on Australian feature documentary Mountain, the latest feature from much-feted filmmaker Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa).
Dogwoof International Sales is co-repping the film with Submarine in the Us. Australian and New Zealand rights have already gone to Madman. German rights have gone to Dcm.
The film, which features the music of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, is billed as a “cinematic musical about the meaning of mountains for different people and for society”.
Mountain is in production and will be ready by late 2016. Dogwoof is looking to clinch pre-sales on the film.
Cartel Land
The news of the Mountain pick-up comes as Dogwoof continues to do roaring trade on its Mexican narco doc Cartel Land.
The film, tipped to be an Oscar contender, has been sold to Australia (Madman), Germany (Dcm) and has been a major hit on iTunes...
- 11/23/2015
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
After a 30-year career of making observational documentaries about women in difficult situations around the world, British director Kim Longinotto is having a moment. "Dreamcatcher," her latest film and her fifth feature documentary to screen at the Sundance Film Festival, won the Director Award (Documentary World Cinema) at the festival. "Astonishing in its intimacy and wrenching in its emotional rawness, 'Dreamcatcher' captures moments of such startling pain and anguish so well it's a miracle that a camera-person was sitting close by to record it," wrote Anthony Kaufman for Indiewire. The multi-award winning Longinotto will receive the 2015 Robert and Anne Drew Award at Doc NYC Film Festival tonight, just a day after she was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Direction by Cinema Eye Honors. Jill Drew, the general manager of Drew Associates, who helped select the recipient, said, "Kim has trained her lens with a graceful touch on some of the.
- 11/12/2015
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Here we have the full list of nominees for the 9th Annual Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking. Cartel Land leads the pack with five nominations; the winners will be announced at the 9th Annual Honors Ceremony on January 13, 2016 at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City. For more information, visit the Cinema Eye Honors website. Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking Amy Cartel Land Democrats Listen to Me Marlon The Look of Silence The Wolfpack Outstanding Achievement in Direction Matt Heineman, Cartel Land Kim Longinotto, Dreamcatcher Laurie Anderson, Heart of a Dog Frederick Wiseman, In Jackson […]...
- 11/12/2015
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Here we have the full list of nominees for the 9th Annual Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking. Cartel Land leads the pack with five nominations; the winners will be announced at the 9th Annual Honors Ceremony on January 13, 2016 at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City. For more information, visit the Cinema Eye Honors website. Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking Amy Cartel Land Democrats Listen to Me Marlon The Look of Silence The Wolfpack Outstanding Achievement in Direction Matt Heineman, Cartel Land Kim Longinotto, Dreamcatcher Laurie Anderson, Heart of a Dog Frederick Wiseman, In Jackson […]...
- 11/12/2015
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Read More: Watch: Exclusive Trailer for Kim Longinotto's Sundance-Bound Doc 'Dreamcatcher' The advertising-free boutique Svod service, SundanceNow Doc Club, has just announced that it is currently showing a retrospective of eight films directed by British filmmaker, Kim Longinotto. All of the films featured in the collection will be accompanied with Longinotto's personal commentary about her work. Resident curator, Thom Powers (Doc NYC, Toronto International Film Festival) oversaw the selection of Longinotto's films. It's a timely honor for Longinotto in light of the filmmaker just receiving the Doc NYC's Robert and Annie Drew Award for Documentary Excellence. Her most recent documentary, "Dreamcatcher," has also garnered massive amount of attention after winning the 2015 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award for World Cinema Documentary. Critics have anticipated "Dreamcatcher" to make the cut for 2016's Academy Award for Best Documentary. The Brit...
- 11/6/2015
- by Elle Leonsis
- Indiewire
Documentary filmmaker places a focus on the lives of women across the globe
Kim Longinotto has been named the 2015 recipient of the BBC Grierson Trustees’ Award.
The documentary filmmaker is known for titles including Sisters In Law, which won the Cicea award at Cannes in 2005, Pink Saris and latest release Dreamcatcher, which won the Directing Award at Sundance in January.
Announcing the award, a statement from The Grierson Trust described Longinotto as: “the creator of numerous groundbreaking films which focus on and explore the lives of women across the globe,. Throughout her career she has consistently given voice to those who have no voice living in some of the world’s most repressive and hostile societies.
Previous winners of the honour include John Battsek, Kevin Macdonald, Alex Graham, John Pilger, Penny Woolcock, Norma Percy, Paul Watson, Mike Salisbury, Nick Fraser, Jonathan Gili, Molly Dineen and Sir David Attenborough.
Grierson Trust chairman Lorraine Heggessey said: “Kim is a filmmaker...
Kim Longinotto has been named the 2015 recipient of the BBC Grierson Trustees’ Award.
The documentary filmmaker is known for titles including Sisters In Law, which won the Cicea award at Cannes in 2005, Pink Saris and latest release Dreamcatcher, which won the Directing Award at Sundance in January.
Announcing the award, a statement from The Grierson Trust described Longinotto as: “the creator of numerous groundbreaking films which focus on and explore the lives of women across the globe,. Throughout her career she has consistently given voice to those who have no voice living in some of the world’s most repressive and hostile societies.
Previous winners of the honour include John Battsek, Kevin Macdonald, Alex Graham, John Pilger, Penny Woolcock, Norma Percy, Paul Watson, Mike Salisbury, Nick Fraser, Jonathan Gili, Molly Dineen and Sir David Attenborough.
Grierson Trust chairman Lorraine Heggessey said: “Kim is a filmmaker...
- 10/13/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Read More: Doc NYC and Ida to Launch Documentary Film Preservation Summit Doc NYC has announced the list of documentaries it will be screening this year as part of its "Short List" program, and 15 films have made the cut. Selected documentaries include HBO's Scientology expose "Going Clear," campus rape documentary "The Hunting Ground" and "He Named Me Malala," about the young Nobel Prize winner. Doc NYC also revealed its Visionaries Tribute recipients, which include Robert and Anne Drew Award winner Kim Longinotto and Leading Light Award winner Tom Quinn. Longinotto's "Dreamcatcher" is among the documentaries that made this year's Short List program. The new recipients join previously announced Lifetime Achievement Award winners Jon Alpert, Barbara Kopple and Frederic Wiseman. Doc NYC will run November 12-19. The complete Doc NYC lineup and screening schedule will be announced on October 14. The Short List...
- 10/7/2015
- by Karen Brill
- Indiewire
Sold-out screenings for Amy Winehouse documentary and Cobain: Montage of Heck.
Sweden’s Way Out West music festival ran its film programme for the fifth year, and selections included a strong mix of music-related docs (Amy, Cobain: Montage of Heck, The Damned: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead), Heaven Adores You and features (Eden, Love & Mercy) as well as indie films (Ex Machina, The Falling, Pervert Park) that might appeal to the trendy crowds attending Way Out West.
Films were screened in two cinemas in Goteborg, as well as in a tent on the larger festival site at Slottsskogen park.
The hundreds of musical acts at the main festival included Florence & The Machine, Fka Twigs, Alt-j, Beck, First Aid Kit, Patti Smith, Lauryn Hill, and the Pet Shop Boys.
The event draws 30,000 visitors per day, mostly for music but increasingly taking a look at the film offerings.
The sold-out screenings for film included Amy, Cobain:...
Sweden’s Way Out West music festival ran its film programme for the fifth year, and selections included a strong mix of music-related docs (Amy, Cobain: Montage of Heck, The Damned: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead), Heaven Adores You and features (Eden, Love & Mercy) as well as indie films (Ex Machina, The Falling, Pervert Park) that might appeal to the trendy crowds attending Way Out West.
Films were screened in two cinemas in Goteborg, as well as in a tent on the larger festival site at Slottsskogen park.
The hundreds of musical acts at the main festival included Florence & The Machine, Fka Twigs, Alt-j, Beck, First Aid Kit, Patti Smith, Lauryn Hill, and the Pet Shop Boys.
The event draws 30,000 visitors per day, mostly for music but increasingly taking a look at the film offerings.
The sold-out screenings for film included Amy, Cobain:...
- 8/18/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Festival’s world premieres include Roxette Diaries, Taikon, Odödliga and Drottninglandet.Scroll down for full line-up
Sweden’s Way Out West Festival (Aug 13-15) will include the world premiere of Jonas Akerlund’s Roxette Diaries, about one of Sweden’s most popular bands.
“They are one of the biggest bands to come out of Sweden, and this film shows them in a new light. It was filmed during their tours from 1988 to 1995, and of course with Jonas Akerlund directing, it has a real art feel to it, he’s very brave with this material,” Svante Tidholm, Way Out West’s Head of Film Programming told Screen.
Another world premiere at the Gothenburg-based film and music festival will be Taikon, a documentary about civil rights activist and author Katarina Taikon. “She was one of the pioneers of human rights for the Romany community. It’s an amazing story and she’s an amazing character,” Tidholm added.
There...
Sweden’s Way Out West Festival (Aug 13-15) will include the world premiere of Jonas Akerlund’s Roxette Diaries, about one of Sweden’s most popular bands.
“They are one of the biggest bands to come out of Sweden, and this film shows them in a new light. It was filmed during their tours from 1988 to 1995, and of course with Jonas Akerlund directing, it has a real art feel to it, he’s very brave with this material,” Svante Tidholm, Way Out West’s Head of Film Programming told Screen.
Another world premiere at the Gothenburg-based film and music festival will be Taikon, a documentary about civil rights activist and author Katarina Taikon. “She was one of the pioneers of human rights for the Romany community. It’s an amazing story and she’s an amazing character,” Tidholm added.
There...
- 7/23/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
New programming head secured films by female filmmakers for close to 50% of the line-up.
Nearly 50% of the films in this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest line-up (73 out of 150) have been either directed or produced by women filmmakers, under its new head of programming and industry engagement Claire Aguilar.
“I wanted to address certain issues in the programming balance - to get films made by and about women,” said Aguilar.
“People said it would be difficult, but it wasn’t a hard goal to achieve, there are plenty of women filmmakers out there.”
Aguilar, who took up the post in January, has also introduced a special Women In Docs strand to this year’s festival (June 5-10) with films in the line-up including Kim Longinotto’s Dreamcatcher, Leslee Udwin’s India’s Daughter, Chloe Ruthven’s Jungle Sisters and Iiris Harma’s Leaving Africa.
Other changes for this edition include the renaming of the Special Jury Prize to the...
Nearly 50% of the films in this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest line-up (73 out of 150) have been either directed or produced by women filmmakers, under its new head of programming and industry engagement Claire Aguilar.
“I wanted to address certain issues in the programming balance - to get films made by and about women,” said Aguilar.
“People said it would be difficult, but it wasn’t a hard goal to achieve, there are plenty of women filmmakers out there.”
Aguilar, who took up the post in January, has also introduced a special Women In Docs strand to this year’s festival (June 5-10) with films in the line-up including Kim Longinotto’s Dreamcatcher, Leslee Udwin’s India’s Daughter, Chloe Ruthven’s Jungle Sisters and Iiris Harma’s Leaving Africa.
Other changes for this edition include the renaming of the Special Jury Prize to the...
- 6/8/2015
- by sarah.cooper@screendaily.com (Sarah Cooper)
- ScreenDaily
★★★★☆ The lives of women in prostitution trying to survive in Chicago and young girls at risk of taking the same path, is revealed with compelling sensitivity in Kim Longinotto's latest documentary, Dreamcatcher (2015). The film follows co-founder and executive director Brenda Myers-Powell as she works and volunteers tirelessly for the Dreamcatcher Foundation to help the lives of women and girls whose lives so closely resemble her own past. Early on in the film, Brenda tells the story of a child who was raised by her grandmother, was abused from the age of four, and who, having observed the women standing in the street, just wanted to be as glamorous as they.
- 4/27/2015
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Miptv: Dogwoof secures deals across the Nordics and Netherlands.
Dogwoof has scored a slew of deals for Matthew Heineman’s documentary feature Cartel Land, which won the Us documentary directing and cinematography awards when it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Vesna Cudic, head of TV sales and acquisitions for Dogwoof, closed deals with Dr (Denmark), Svt (Sweden), Nkr (Norway), Yle (Finland), Vpro (Netherlands)..
Mette Hoffman Meyer, commissioning editor for Dr, said Cartel Land was “one of the scariest films I have seen - the access into a society of corruption, murder, and violence is just mind blowing.”
Heineman’s hard-hitting film is the true story of two very different vigilante groups across the Us border that have formed to combat the ruthless Mexican drug cartels.
Pre-miptv sales included a deal between Dogwoof’s UK arm and BBC Storyville with Dogwoof planning a theatrical release this autumn.
Other Miptv sales include:
Sundance 2014 doc Dinosaur 13 by [link...
Dogwoof has scored a slew of deals for Matthew Heineman’s documentary feature Cartel Land, which won the Us documentary directing and cinematography awards when it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Vesna Cudic, head of TV sales and acquisitions for Dogwoof, closed deals with Dr (Denmark), Svt (Sweden), Nkr (Norway), Yle (Finland), Vpro (Netherlands)..
Mette Hoffman Meyer, commissioning editor for Dr, said Cartel Land was “one of the scariest films I have seen - the access into a society of corruption, murder, and violence is just mind blowing.”
Heineman’s hard-hitting film is the true story of two very different vigilante groups across the Us border that have formed to combat the ruthless Mexican drug cartels.
Pre-miptv sales included a deal between Dogwoof’s UK arm and BBC Storyville with Dogwoof planning a theatrical release this autumn.
Other Miptv sales include:
Sundance 2014 doc Dinosaur 13 by [link...
- 4/15/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
An extraordinarily personal story about prostitution, one with a gentle but undeniable humanist force for hopeful understanding. I’m “biast” (pro): I’m desperate for movies about women
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Fresh from its debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival is veteran documentarian Kim Longinotto’s moving portrait of Brenda Myers-Powell and her Dreamcatcher Foundation, which supports women escaping from prostitution. Longinotto follows Myers-Powell on her nightly rounds in Chicago, offering help and hope to women — some of whom are still only girls — who are ready to get off the streets, and condoms and hugs for those who aren’t. There is no judgment in the film just as there is none in Myers-Powell’s approach, because she knows exactly what these women are suffering through: she was once there herself. This is one of...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Fresh from its debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival is veteran documentarian Kim Longinotto’s moving portrait of Brenda Myers-Powell and her Dreamcatcher Foundation, which supports women escaping from prostitution. Longinotto follows Myers-Powell on her nightly rounds in Chicago, offering help and hope to women — some of whom are still only girls — who are ready to get off the streets, and condoms and hugs for those who aren’t. There is no judgment in the film just as there is none in Myers-Powell’s approach, because she knows exactly what these women are suffering through: she was once there herself. This is one of...
- 3/6/2015
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Some of the most powerful dramas being told at the movies right now are in documentaries, with the form getting more popular year by year. Audiences are following along, intrigued to see stories from the world around them they may not have known about, and this year at Sundance, two movies drew major buzz in the documentary category, won prizes, and now the trailers are here. First up is "Dark Horse," which took the World Cinema Audience Award. Directed by Louise Osmond, it tells the tale of a barmaid at a men's club in a mining town in Wales, who hatches a crazy plan to breed a winning racehorse. With locals pitching in money and support, the steed, Dream Alliance, takes to the track and wins over hearts and minds. The film opens in the U.K. on April 17th, but there's no stateside date yet from distributors Sony Pictures Classics.
- 2/26/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Following its recent win at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, Showtime has announced that "Dreamcatcher" will premiere on the network on March 27th at 9 pm Et/Pt. The film is an inspirational portrait of Chicago's Brenda Myers-Powell whose Dreamcatcher Foundation fights to end human trafficking and prevent the sexual exploitation of at-risk youth. "Dreamcatcher" recently made its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival as part of the World Cinema Documentary section. The documentary won the World Cinema Directing Award honoring the work of veteran documentarian Kim Longinotto. "Dreamcatcher" focuses on Brenda Myers-Powell, a former...
- 2/24/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Brenda Myers-Powell: 'Crisis doesn't happen from 9 to 5, it happens when it happens and you have to be ready' Photo: Kim Longinotto Kim Longinotto's documentary Dreamcatcher is a celebration of just how much difference a single person can make - in this case, former prostitute Brenda Myers-Powell, a woman whose positive energy hits you the moment she walks in the room.
The film charts the daily - and nightly - outreach of Myers-Powell, who has dedicated her life to helping girls trapped in the sex industry get themselves off the street at the same time as trying to prevent the next generation slipping through the cracks in the system into the same life. When I caught up with Longinotto and Myers-Powell at a condo at Sundance Film Festival, Myers-Powell was demonstrating what it means to be always on call to help. A phone call had come in just as I arrived from a girl,...
The film charts the daily - and nightly - outreach of Myers-Powell, who has dedicated her life to helping girls trapped in the sex industry get themselves off the street at the same time as trying to prevent the next generation slipping through the cracks in the system into the same life. When I caught up with Longinotto and Myers-Powell at a condo at Sundance Film Festival, Myers-Powell was demonstrating what it means to be always on call to help. A phone call had come in just as I arrived from a girl,...
- 2/24/2015
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Given reports that moviegoing in North America has dipped to its lowest level in two decades and specialty distributors are increasingly going day-and-date if not entirely VOD, we asked a selection of independent filmmakers whether getting a theatrical release still matters. Specifically, participants were asked to respond to the following question: Given the various digital distribution and TV options now available for films to get exposure (and revenue), is theatrical distribution still essential -- or even important for a film's life? We asked filmmakers to include any specific examples they've had with their own films and promised to feature their unedited responses, which we've done below. The filmmakers who responded are listed along with their most recent film. Read More: Who Needs Theatrical Distribution? Here's Why One Filmmaker is Skipping Theaters. Kim Longinotto ("Dreamcatcher") I really don't know whether it's essential or not. But I love what happens when...
- 2/11/2015
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
The fashion house documentary has been snapped up in Russia, Iraly and Benelux among other territories.
UK outfit Dogwoof has revealed a string of international sales deals for Dior and I by Frederic Tcheng, the co-director of Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel.
The latest set of deals include Benelux (Imagine); German-speaking Europe (Nfp); Italy (Wanted); Russia (Documentary Centre); Scandinavia and Baltics (NonStop Ent); France (Dissidenz) and a world in-flight deal excluding Us, UK and Australia.
The deals were brokered by Ana Vicente on behalf of Dogwoof and further sales deals are expected to be finalised at the European Film Market (Efm) in Berlin. Vincente said there were “only a few markets left to be sold”.
Previous deals have been agreed in Australia & Nz (Madman), Japan (Open Sesame/Alcine), Taiwan (Sky Dig), Hong Kong (Edko), France and Spain (Canal+) where the film has been scheduled to release along with UK (Dogwoof) in March 2015.
Dior and I brings...
UK outfit Dogwoof has revealed a string of international sales deals for Dior and I by Frederic Tcheng, the co-director of Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel.
The latest set of deals include Benelux (Imagine); German-speaking Europe (Nfp); Italy (Wanted); Russia (Documentary Centre); Scandinavia and Baltics (NonStop Ent); France (Dissidenz) and a world in-flight deal excluding Us, UK and Australia.
The deals were brokered by Ana Vicente on behalf of Dogwoof and further sales deals are expected to be finalised at the European Film Market (Efm) in Berlin. Vincente said there were “only a few markets left to be sold”.
Previous deals have been agreed in Australia & Nz (Madman), Japan (Open Sesame/Alcine), Taiwan (Sky Dig), Hong Kong (Edko), France and Spain (Canal+) where the film has been scheduled to release along with UK (Dogwoof) in March 2015.
Dior and I brings...
- 2/4/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Sundance this year seems to have a theme of abuse and action against abuse of women, men, children, and minds.
There was a long list to choose from, including “I Smile Back” (self-abuse), “James White” (self-abuse),“The Stanford Prison Experiment” (mind abuse), “The Mask You Live In” (mind abuse of males in America), “Prophets of Prey” (mind abuse),
“Experimenter” (more mind abuse), “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” (mind abuse), “Stockholm, Pennsylvania” (abduction), “3 ½ Minutes” (victim of violence), “Cartel Land” (drug related violence), “Hot Girls Wanted” (young women in porn), “The Wolfpack” (youths locked up), “Chorus” (child murder), “Glassland” (broken family), “Take Me to the River” (sexual abuse?), “Reversal” (sexual abuse), “Partisan” (kid locked up), “Strangerland” (kids disappear), “Lila & Eve” (son’s murder), “True Story” (identity theft), “Zipper” (sexual addiction), “The Hunting Ground” (sexual abuse on college campuses). Even the opening night film, the eye-opening “What Happened, Miss Simone?” by Liz Garbus dealt with abuse. That is 24 titles!
“Dreamcatcher” (World Documentary, U.K.), which won the World Cinema Documentary Award for Directing, is the one that caught me. Brenda Myers-Powell, a former teenage prostitute with a drug habit has recovered after 25 years on the streets, and is an extraordinary woman.
“Dreamcatcher” takes us into a hidden world which we see through Brenda’s eyes. Brenda defied the odds to become a powerful advocate for change in her community.
With unprecedented access, multi award winning director, Kim Longinotto paints a vivid portrait of a community struggling to come to terms with some of its most painful truths and of the extraordinary woman who uses her past to inspire others to survive. With warmth and humor, Brenda gives hope to those who have none.
Brenda is a beautiful woman who went into recovery after her face was destroyed by a “john” who physically dragged her across rough terrain. We meet her in the film as she cruises the streets and goes to talk with prostitutes telling them that if they ever need a place to come, to hide, to recover, Dreamcatcher is there to help. She listens to their stories when they do come to her; she goes into prisons to talk to prostitutes, she goes into schools to talk to girls at risk.
At the high school, she opened the group with the discussion point of how to get away from a guy who is pressuring the girls in ways they do not want to go. One girl said she had been abused since she was a child. The rest of the class chimed in with similar stories of sexual abuse taking Brenda by surprise. “I didn’t know this would be the what we talked about today, but since we are talking, I too was abused as a young girl.” There was nothing she heard that shocked her because she had gone through it all herself.
Her calm ability to hear the worst of stories made me ask the film’s publicist, Susan Norget, for an interview with her. My main question was how did she manage to keep all judgment from entering the conversations, how had she learned to listen so well.
When I met her personally, she was even more beautiful than in the movie. We sat and talked and she explained first that the class in the film was in its second semester and she had spent the first semester just trying to get the girls to settle down and behave. She also said that she had spent 25 years on the streets, and “you have to learn to judge people – are they violent, serial killers? You get a sixth sense about people in order to survive.”
But when she was nearly destroyed, she went to someone who had spoken to her as she now speaks to others.
Who was this I wanted to know.
“She was a hippy outreach worker who spoke to me when I was in jail”, she said.
“In prison?” I asked.
“No, jail, not prison”. Jail is where they hold you until they indict you for a crime. When guilty, you go to prison. I was never in prison.”
This hippy outreach woman was a British woman named Edwina Gateley. She was a journalist who, with a therapist, opened her home for women prostitutes. I spent 18 months there, nineteen years ago and I am still with her. They healed my face with natural herbs; I learned to meditate and to love myself.
B: “I am a very spiritual person. My favorite poem is ‘Footprints.' My own god is very personal.
Me: You don’t offer Christianity, you never mention religion. How does recovery work?
B: The girls on the street are not ready for that. You can’t say ‘Jesus Loves You’ and then abandon them. They need to learn to love themselves. Edwina told me my body was special, not meant for what I was using it for. I did a lot of meditation, thinking and talking.
Me: In the movie your daughter talks about her life and how it was for her with you on the streets. Today she is a psychiatrist. How did she get through her childhood to grow up so well?
B: Aunt Suzy took care of my daughters. She is my mother’s sister.
Also Aunt Josey raised my daughters to become women, Christian women. One is a doctor and the other in criminal justice.
I forgot to ask her about her husband, if they were always married or newly married. She has adopted the child of her sister-in-law.
We see in the film that her family and extended family include her high achieving daughter and her drug addicted sister-in-law, tied to a man who seems to harbor a violent temper. We see that she holds a good job – “well good as I see it”, she says, “And having that I feel I must help others achieve it as well”.
She works as a volunteer for Dreamcatcher which is really her life. She has moments of anxiety and worry, all is not perfect, but she clearly sees her mission and is clear about how she speaks of it. This film made me feel like a better person, and if I lived in Chicago, I would be motivated to volunteer with Dreamcatcher.
Brenda would not like to be lionized, but to meet and speak with her is to be inspired.
The Isa handling "Dreamcatcher" is Dogwoof...
There was a long list to choose from, including “I Smile Back” (self-abuse), “James White” (self-abuse),“The Stanford Prison Experiment” (mind abuse), “The Mask You Live In” (mind abuse of males in America), “Prophets of Prey” (mind abuse),
“Experimenter” (more mind abuse), “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” (mind abuse), “Stockholm, Pennsylvania” (abduction), “3 ½ Minutes” (victim of violence), “Cartel Land” (drug related violence), “Hot Girls Wanted” (young women in porn), “The Wolfpack” (youths locked up), “Chorus” (child murder), “Glassland” (broken family), “Take Me to the River” (sexual abuse?), “Reversal” (sexual abuse), “Partisan” (kid locked up), “Strangerland” (kids disappear), “Lila & Eve” (son’s murder), “True Story” (identity theft), “Zipper” (sexual addiction), “The Hunting Ground” (sexual abuse on college campuses). Even the opening night film, the eye-opening “What Happened, Miss Simone?” by Liz Garbus dealt with abuse. That is 24 titles!
“Dreamcatcher” (World Documentary, U.K.), which won the World Cinema Documentary Award for Directing, is the one that caught me. Brenda Myers-Powell, a former teenage prostitute with a drug habit has recovered after 25 years on the streets, and is an extraordinary woman.
“Dreamcatcher” takes us into a hidden world which we see through Brenda’s eyes. Brenda defied the odds to become a powerful advocate for change in her community.
With unprecedented access, multi award winning director, Kim Longinotto paints a vivid portrait of a community struggling to come to terms with some of its most painful truths and of the extraordinary woman who uses her past to inspire others to survive. With warmth and humor, Brenda gives hope to those who have none.
Brenda is a beautiful woman who went into recovery after her face was destroyed by a “john” who physically dragged her across rough terrain. We meet her in the film as she cruises the streets and goes to talk with prostitutes telling them that if they ever need a place to come, to hide, to recover, Dreamcatcher is there to help. She listens to their stories when they do come to her; she goes into prisons to talk to prostitutes, she goes into schools to talk to girls at risk.
At the high school, she opened the group with the discussion point of how to get away from a guy who is pressuring the girls in ways they do not want to go. One girl said she had been abused since she was a child. The rest of the class chimed in with similar stories of sexual abuse taking Brenda by surprise. “I didn’t know this would be the what we talked about today, but since we are talking, I too was abused as a young girl.” There was nothing she heard that shocked her because she had gone through it all herself.
Her calm ability to hear the worst of stories made me ask the film’s publicist, Susan Norget, for an interview with her. My main question was how did she manage to keep all judgment from entering the conversations, how had she learned to listen so well.
When I met her personally, she was even more beautiful than in the movie. We sat and talked and she explained first that the class in the film was in its second semester and she had spent the first semester just trying to get the girls to settle down and behave. She also said that she had spent 25 years on the streets, and “you have to learn to judge people – are they violent, serial killers? You get a sixth sense about people in order to survive.”
But when she was nearly destroyed, she went to someone who had spoken to her as she now speaks to others.
Who was this I wanted to know.
“She was a hippy outreach worker who spoke to me when I was in jail”, she said.
“In prison?” I asked.
“No, jail, not prison”. Jail is where they hold you until they indict you for a crime. When guilty, you go to prison. I was never in prison.”
This hippy outreach woman was a British woman named Edwina Gateley. She was a journalist who, with a therapist, opened her home for women prostitutes. I spent 18 months there, nineteen years ago and I am still with her. They healed my face with natural herbs; I learned to meditate and to love myself.
B: “I am a very spiritual person. My favorite poem is ‘Footprints.' My own god is very personal.
Me: You don’t offer Christianity, you never mention religion. How does recovery work?
B: The girls on the street are not ready for that. You can’t say ‘Jesus Loves You’ and then abandon them. They need to learn to love themselves. Edwina told me my body was special, not meant for what I was using it for. I did a lot of meditation, thinking and talking.
Me: In the movie your daughter talks about her life and how it was for her with you on the streets. Today she is a psychiatrist. How did she get through her childhood to grow up so well?
B: Aunt Suzy took care of my daughters. She is my mother’s sister.
Also Aunt Josey raised my daughters to become women, Christian women. One is a doctor and the other in criminal justice.
I forgot to ask her about her husband, if they were always married or newly married. She has adopted the child of her sister-in-law.
We see in the film that her family and extended family include her high achieving daughter and her drug addicted sister-in-law, tied to a man who seems to harbor a violent temper. We see that she holds a good job – “well good as I see it”, she says, “And having that I feel I must help others achieve it as well”.
She works as a volunteer for Dreamcatcher which is really her life. She has moments of anxiety and worry, all is not perfect, but she clearly sees her mission and is clear about how she speaks of it. This film made me feel like a better person, and if I lived in Chicago, I would be motivated to volunteer with Dreamcatcher.
Brenda would not like to be lionized, but to meet and speak with her is to be inspired.
The Isa handling "Dreamcatcher" is Dogwoof...
- 2/3/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Hao Zhou and Qi Zhao's The Chinese Mayor (China), which won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Unparalleled Access, followed the Mayor of China’s forgotten city Datong as he single-handedly attempted to reconstruct it. Turner Ross and Bill Ross IV's Western (U.S.), which won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Verité Filmmaking is the perfect counterpoint as it follows the Mayor of Eagle Pass, Texas, a border town of Piedras Negras, Mexico, as he attempts to forge an understanding between both nations in the midst of modern-day frontier fighting. And lastly, Kim Longinotto's Dreamcatcher (U.K.), which won the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award, follows a survivor of twenty-five years of drug-addicted prostitution, who now "works the streets" day and night, in the attempt to help the women of today (from condoms to safe-houses) who are stuck in their own situations.
- 2/3/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Hao Zhou and Qi Zhao's The Chinese Mayor (China), which won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Unparalleled Access, followed the Mayor of China’s forgotten city Datong as he single-handedly attempted to reconstruct it. Turner Ross and Bill Ross IV's Western (U.S.), which won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Verité Filmmaking is the perfect counterpoint as it follows the Mayor of Eagle Pass, Texas, a border town of Piedras Negras, Mexico, as he attempts to forge an understanding between both nations in the midst of modern-day frontier fighting. And lastly, Kim Longinotto's Dreamcatcher (U.K.), which won the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award, follows a survivor of twenty-five years of drug-addicted prostitution, who now "works the streets" day and night, in the attempt to help the women of today (from condoms to safe-houses) who are stuck in their own situations.
- 2/3/2015
- Keyframe
Sundance breakout Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, a quirky, heartfelt story about a pair of high school film-lovers who befriend a girl with cancer, won both the U.S. dramatic audience award and the grand jury prize at the 31st Sundance Film Festival awards, announced Saturday.
Thomas Mann, R.J. Cyler and Olivia Cooke lead the cast of the idiosyncratic tearjerker from director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, who dedicated the audience award to all the filmmakers and artists in his hometown of Laredo, Texas. Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, and Molly Shannon also star.
"My love goes out to the entire cast and crew," Gomez-Rejon said. "This movie was about processing loss, but really to celebrate a beautiful life and a beautiful man, which is my amazing father ... to celebrate his life through humor."
The Wolfpack, Crystal Moselle's documentary about six movie-loving teenage boys isolated from society picked up the...
Thomas Mann, R.J. Cyler and Olivia Cooke lead the cast of the idiosyncratic tearjerker from director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, who dedicated the audience award to all the filmmakers and artists in his hometown of Laredo, Texas. Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, and Molly Shannon also star.
"My love goes out to the entire cast and crew," Gomez-Rejon said. "This movie was about processing loss, but really to celebrate a beautiful life and a beautiful man, which is my amazing father ... to celebrate his life through humor."
The Wolfpack, Crystal Moselle's documentary about six movie-loving teenage boys isolated from society picked up the...
- 2/2/2015
- by Cineplex.com and contributors
- Cineplex
Following a bidding war that netted the film a sale of $12 million, a record at Sundance, the much hyped Me & Earl and the Dying Girl won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award from the Sundance Film Festival Awards Saturday evening. The previous film to win both prizes was 2014’s Whiplash, which is now up for an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (our own Dylan Griffin raved about it) tells the story of an anti-social high school senior who is forced by his mother to become friends with a girl suffering from leukemia. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Glee, American Horror Story), the film stars Thomas Mann, Rj Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, and Molly Shannon.
Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush are now planning a 2015 release for the film. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was selected by a jury that included Cary Fukunaga,...
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (our own Dylan Griffin raved about it) tells the story of an anti-social high school senior who is forced by his mother to become friends with a girl suffering from leukemia. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Glee, American Horror Story), the film stars Thomas Mann, Rj Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, and Molly Shannon.
Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush are now planning a 2015 release for the film. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was selected by a jury that included Cary Fukunaga,...
- 2/1/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
U.S Dramatic
Grand Jury Prize
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)
Audience Award
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)
Directing Award
The Witch (Robert Eggers, U.S./Canada)
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
The Stanford Prison Experiment (Tim Talbott)
Special Jury Award – Excellence in Cinematography
Diary of a Teenage Girl (Brandon Trost)
Special Jury Award – Excellence in Editing
Dope (Lee Haugen)
Special Jury Award – Collaborative Vision
Advantageous (Jacqueline Kim, Jennifer Phang)
U.S. Documentary
Grand Jury Prize
The Wolfpack (Crystal Moselle)
Audience Award
Meru (Jimmy Chin, E. Chai Vasarhelyi)
Directing Award
Cartel Land (Matthew Heineman, U.S./Mexico)
Special Jury Award — Social Impact
3 1/2 Minutes (Marc Silver)
Special Jury Award – Verite Filmmaking
Western (Bill Ross, Turner Ross)
Special Jury Award – Break Out First Feature
(T)error (Lyric R. Cabral, David Felix Sutcliffe)
Special Jury Award – Cinematography
Cartel Land (Matthew Heineman, Matt Porwoll)
World Cinema Dramatic...
Grand Jury Prize
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)
Audience Award
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)
Directing Award
The Witch (Robert Eggers, U.S./Canada)
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
The Stanford Prison Experiment (Tim Talbott)
Special Jury Award – Excellence in Cinematography
Diary of a Teenage Girl (Brandon Trost)
Special Jury Award – Excellence in Editing
Dope (Lee Haugen)
Special Jury Award – Collaborative Vision
Advantageous (Jacqueline Kim, Jennifer Phang)
U.S. Documentary
Grand Jury Prize
The Wolfpack (Crystal Moselle)
Audience Award
Meru (Jimmy Chin, E. Chai Vasarhelyi)
Directing Award
Cartel Land (Matthew Heineman, U.S./Mexico)
Special Jury Award — Social Impact
3 1/2 Minutes (Marc Silver)
Special Jury Award – Verite Filmmaking
Western (Bill Ross, Turner Ross)
Special Jury Award – Break Out First Feature
(T)error (Lyric R. Cabral, David Felix Sutcliffe)
Special Jury Award – Cinematography
Cartel Land (Matthew Heineman, Matt Porwoll)
World Cinema Dramatic...
- 2/1/2015
- by Notebook
- MUBI
Following in the footsteps of Fruitvale Station and Whiplash before it, the most talked about title in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s Me and Earl and the Dying Girl claimed both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and U.S. Dramatic Audience Award. Crystal Moselle’s audience favorite might not have claimed the Audience Award (Meru), but the family featured in The Wolfpack landed a much coveted U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize. Matthew Heineman’s unfathomably constructed Cartel Land landed to Jury Prizes in Best Director and Excellence in Cinematography. In stellar Next, the unique prize went to Josh Mond’s brilliant directorial debut James White. Here is the press release and all the winners.
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Gordon Quinn to:
The Wolfpack / U.S.A. (Director: Crystal Moselle)
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Edgar Wright to:
Me...
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Gordon Quinn to:
The Wolfpack / U.S.A. (Director: Crystal Moselle)
The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Edgar Wright to:
Me...
- 2/1/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
It was a good night for UK and Irish film at the Sundance Film Festival, as Slow West, Dark Horse, The Russian Woodpecker, Dreamcatcher, Glassland and How To Change The World won awards.
Scottish director John Maclean took home the World Cinema Dramatic Competition Grand Jury prize for his buddy western Slow West, starring Michael Fassbender and Kodi Smit-McPhee, while the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize went to Chad Gracia for The Russian Woodpecker, which tracks a Ukranian victim of the Chernobyl disaster.
The Dark Horse, Louise Osmond's documentary about a group of pals who decided to breed themselves a racehorse, won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Competition, while Kim Longinotto's story of a former prostitute who has dedicated her life to stop human trafficking, Dreamcatcher, won the World Cinema Directing Award.
The World Cinema editing award was presented to Jim Scott for his work on Greenpeace documentary How.
Scottish director John Maclean took home the World Cinema Dramatic Competition Grand Jury prize for his buddy western Slow West, starring Michael Fassbender and Kodi Smit-McPhee, while the World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize went to Chad Gracia for The Russian Woodpecker, which tracks a Ukranian victim of the Chernobyl disaster.
The Dark Horse, Louise Osmond's documentary about a group of pals who decided to breed themselves a racehorse, won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Competition, while Kim Longinotto's story of a former prostitute who has dedicated her life to stop human trafficking, Dreamcatcher, won the World Cinema Directing Award.
The World Cinema editing award was presented to Jim Scott for his work on Greenpeace documentary How.
- 2/1/2015
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The 2015 Sundance Film Festival concluded on Saturday (January 31) night with a Tig Notaro-hosted award ceremony in which it seemed like nearly everything was given an award by one of the Festival's juries. "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, won both the Us Dramatic Jury Prize and Audience Prize, an increasingly less rare double. On the Us Documentary side, Crystal Moselle's "The Wolfpack" won the Grand Jury Prize, but "Meru" won the Audience Award. John Maclean's "Slow West" won the World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, while Chad Garcia's "Russian Woodpecker" was the World Cinema Documentary Grand Prize winner. While "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" was one of the most buzzed-about titles in the Us Dramatic Competition, several other rave-winners picked up key prizes on Saturday night, including the Grand Jury Directing Award to Robert Eggers for "The Witch," the Waldo Salt...
- 2/1/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Updated with details and quotes: The Sundance Film Festival awards ceremony tonight in Park City saw a dramatic dual decision and strong political voices to put a cap on a hot-deals festival. Like last year, when Whiplash took both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award on its way to an Best Picture Oscar nomination, the much-sought Me And Earl And The Dying Girl took both this year.
“I want to dedicate this to all the young filmmakers in my hometown of Laredo, Texas,” said director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon onstage. Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush teamed to land the pic earlier this week after frenzied bidding, with a 2015 release planned. The Jesse Andrews script follows Greg, who is coasting through senior year of high school as anonymously as possible, avoiding social interactions like the plague while secretly making spirited, bizarre films with Earl, his only friend. But...
“I want to dedicate this to all the young filmmakers in my hometown of Laredo, Texas,” said director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon onstage. Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush teamed to land the pic earlier this week after frenzied bidding, with a 2015 release planned. The Jesse Andrews script follows Greg, who is coasting through senior year of high school as anonymously as possible, avoiding social interactions like the plague while secretly making spirited, bizarre films with Earl, his only friend. But...
- 2/1/2015
- by Dominic Patten and Patrick Hipes
- Deadline
Sundance: The 2015 festival approached the end on Saturday (January 31) as Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s Me And Earl And The Dying Girl capped a sensational 10 days by scooping both the Us grand jury prize and audience awards.Scroll down for full list of winners
Earlier in the week Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush partnered on the acquisition of world rights.
Crystal Moselle’s The Wolfpack won the Us grand jury documentary award days after Magnolia Pictures moved for world rights.
In the World Cinema categories, John Maclean’s UK-New Zealand entry Slow West prevailed in the dramatic strand while there was joy for UK documentary winner The Russian Woodpecker by Chad Gracia.
Meru by Jimmy Chin and E Chai Vasarhelyi triumphed in the Us dramatic audience award. Robert Eggers was a highlight of the directing honours with the Us dramatic prize for The Witch while Kim Longinotto won World Cinema documentary for Dreamcatcher
The festival runs from January 22-February...
Earlier in the week Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush partnered on the acquisition of world rights.
Crystal Moselle’s The Wolfpack won the Us grand jury documentary award days after Magnolia Pictures moved for world rights.
In the World Cinema categories, John Maclean’s UK-New Zealand entry Slow West prevailed in the dramatic strand while there was joy for UK documentary winner The Russian Woodpecker by Chad Gracia.
Meru by Jimmy Chin and E Chai Vasarhelyi triumphed in the Us dramatic audience award. Robert Eggers was a highlight of the directing honours with the Us dramatic prize for The Witch while Kim Longinotto won World Cinema documentary for Dreamcatcher
The festival runs from January 22-February...
- 1/31/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Sundance: The 2015 festival approached the end on Saturday (January 31) as Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s Me And Earl And The Dying Girl capped a sensational 10 days by scooping both the Us grand jury prize and audience awards.
Earlier in the week Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush partnered on the acquisition of world rights.
Crystal Moselle’s The Wolfpack won the Us grand jury documentary award days after Magnolia Pictures moved for world rights.
In the World Cinema categories, John Maclean’s UK-New Zealand entry Slow West prevailed in the dramatic strand while there was joy for UK documentary winner The Russian Woodpecker by Chad Gracia.
Meru by Jimmy Chin and E Chai Vasarhelyi triumphed in the Us dramatic audience award. Robert Eggers was a highlight of the directing honours with the Us dramatic prize for The Witch while Kim Longinotto won World Cinema documentary for Dreamcatcher
The festival runs from January 22-February 1 and screened 123 feature-length and 60 short films selected...
Earlier in the week Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush partnered on the acquisition of world rights.
Crystal Moselle’s The Wolfpack won the Us grand jury documentary award days after Magnolia Pictures moved for world rights.
In the World Cinema categories, John Maclean’s UK-New Zealand entry Slow West prevailed in the dramatic strand while there was joy for UK documentary winner The Russian Woodpecker by Chad Gracia.
Meru by Jimmy Chin and E Chai Vasarhelyi triumphed in the Us dramatic audience award. Robert Eggers was a highlight of the directing honours with the Us dramatic prize for The Witch while Kim Longinotto won World Cinema documentary for Dreamcatcher
The festival runs from January 22-February 1 and screened 123 feature-length and 60 short films selected...
- 1/31/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
When it comes to documentaries, the Sundance Film Festival is very good — and perhaps no institution is better — at providing a platform for important social issue films. But while many of this year's TV-ready docs are effective and affecting portraits of real people and their problems (i.e. "What Happened, Miss Simone?," "The Hunting Ground"), Sundance lacks a significant presence of nonfiction films that push the form forward stylistically or that dare to be different. Read More: The 2015 Indiewire Sundance Bible That's not to say there isn't an art to crafting impactful and compelling movies made from traditional documentary storytelling techniques, whether direct cinema or mixing archival footage with interviews. Indeed, a film like British documentary veteran Kim Longinotto's "Dreamcatcher" is a bravura piece of pure observational cinema that would make Albert Maysles proud. The film follows a former Chicago prostitute who...
- 1/29/2015
- by Anthony Kaufman
- Indiewire
Kim Longinotto's Dreamcatcher observes Brenda Myers-Powell as she attempts to fulfill her mission of ending human trafficking in Chicago. Her organization, the Dreamcatcher Foundation, helps abused, drug-addicted women regain control of their lives. Armed with an overwhelmingly positive and caring personality, Myers-Powell gives hope to these women who would otherwise be lost. Myers-Powell's unwavering strength and self-confidence serves as an anchor for the women, convincing them that they can survive outside of the sex industry. Thanks to the Dreamcatcher Foundation, they learn that their lives are not completely hopeless; they have a chance to follow Myers-Powell's example and turn things around.
- 1/29/2015
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Park City. The breakout hit of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, Lee Daniels' "Precious" was an intriguing tightrope act on the threshold of misery audiences could withstand in a movie that was still fundamentally meant to be life-affirming. Already acquired by the extremely busy folks at Showtime, this year's Sundance World Documentary Competition entry "Dreamcatcher" is another test for that precarious balance. Full of moments that are sure to cause cringing and wincing, sure to push some viewers to an empathetic breaking point, "Dreamcatcher" does, indeed, manage to unfold with a consistent sense of uplift thanks to Brenda Myers-Powell, its featured subject. Because of Brenda Myers-Powell, Kim Longinotto's film is finally quite inspirational, though the journey is through such muck as to make you question the darkness of human nature entire. Brenda Myers-Powell was molested as a child, pushed into prostitution as a teen and stuck in a cycle...
- 1/28/2015
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Showtime Networks has acquired the rights to "Dreamcatcher," the inspirational portrait of Chicago's Brenda Myers-Powell whose Dreamcatcher Foundation fights to end human trafficking and to prevent the sexual exploitation of at-risk youth. The documentary was acquired before its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, which kicked off yesterday. "Dreamcatcher" is set to world premiere on Sunday, January 25 at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival as part of the World Cinema Documentary section. Directed by veteran documentarian Kim Longinotto, the film focuses on Brenda Myers-Powell, a former Chicago prostitute who helps women and teenage girls break the cycle...
- 1/23/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Kim Longinotto-directed film follows a former prostitute’s efforts to end the sexual exploitation of at-risk youth
Showtime acquired the rights to “Dreamcatcher” on Thursday, a documentary about a former prostitute’s efforts to curb human trafficking and to prevent the sexual exploitation of at-risk youth. The deal was announced before its Jan. 25 world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
Also Read: 10 Sundance Breakout Stars Led by Melissa Rauch, Julia Garner and the ‘Knock Knock’ Girls
Directed by veteran documentarian Kim Longinotto (“Salma,” “Rough Aunties,” “Divorce Iranian Style,”) “Dreamcatcher” focuses on Brenda Myers-Powell, a former Chicago prostitute who helps...
Showtime acquired the rights to “Dreamcatcher” on Thursday, a documentary about a former prostitute’s efforts to curb human trafficking and to prevent the sexual exploitation of at-risk youth. The deal was announced before its Jan. 25 world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
Also Read: 10 Sundance Breakout Stars Led by Melissa Rauch, Julia Garner and the ‘Knock Knock’ Girls
Directed by veteran documentarian Kim Longinotto (“Salma,” “Rough Aunties,” “Divorce Iranian Style,”) “Dreamcatcher” focuses on Brenda Myers-Powell, a former Chicago prostitute who helps...
- 1/22/2015
- by Travis Reilly
- The Wrap
Showtime Networks has made a deal for rights to Dreamcatcher, the Sundance premiere documentary by helmer Kim Longinotto (Salma, Rough Aunties, Divorce Iranian Style) about former Chicago prostitute-turned-advocate Brenda Myers-Powell and her efforts to fight the sexual exploitation of at-risk youth. The Rise Films, Vixen Films and Green Acres production in association with Impact Partners and Artemis Rising Foundation is produced by Lisa Stevens and Teddy Leifer (The Inte…...
- 1/22/2015
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline TV
Showtime Networks has made a deal for rights to Dreamcatcher, the Sundance premiere documentary by helmer Kim Longinotto (Salma, Rough Aunties, Divorce Iranian Style) about former Chicago prostitute-turned-advocate Brenda Myers-Powell and her efforts to fight the sexual exploitation of at-risk youth. The Rise Films, Vixen Films and Green Acres production in association with Impact Partners and Artemis Rising Foundation is produced by Lisa Stevens and Teddy Leifer (The Interrupters, The Invisible War) and executive produced by Dan Cogan, Geralyn White Dreyfous and Regina K. Scully; associate producers are John Stack and Wilfred Spears. Deal was negotiated by Andrew Herwitz of the Film Sales Company on behalf of the filmmakers.
- 1/22/2015
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
11th edition of festival to close with UK premiere of Force Majeure, and will feature 33 UK premieres and a record 11 world premieres.
While We’re Young is to receive its European premiere as the opening film of the 11th Glasgow Film Festival (Gff) (Feb 18-Mar 1).
Noah Baumbach’s comedy stars Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as a settled married couple who are offered a second chance at youth when hipsters Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried) come into their lives. The film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival last year.
This year’s festival will close with the UK premiere of Cannes Jury Prize-winner Force Majeure, written and directed by Ruben Östlund. The film explores the flaws and cracks in a marriage after an avalanche hits in the French Alps where the couple are on a skiing holiday with their children.
Supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, EventScotland, Creative Scotland and BFI, this year’s...
While We’re Young is to receive its European premiere as the opening film of the 11th Glasgow Film Festival (Gff) (Feb 18-Mar 1).
Noah Baumbach’s comedy stars Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as a settled married couple who are offered a second chance at youth when hipsters Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried) come into their lives. The film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival last year.
This year’s festival will close with the UK premiere of Cannes Jury Prize-winner Force Majeure, written and directed by Ruben Östlund. The film explores the flaws and cracks in a marriage after an avalanche hits in the French Alps where the couple are on a skiing holiday with their children.
Supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, EventScotland, Creative Scotland and BFI, this year’s...
- 1/21/2015
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
British filmmaker Kim Longinotto has spent the majority of her career using film to examine various forms of community activism, specifically in relation to women's issues across the world. Her latest documentary, "Dreamcatcher," will be debuting at Sundance. "It's such a huge privilege to meet people like Brenda and the amazing girls and women she encounters in this film," she said. What it's about: It follows the life of Brenda Myers-Powell who works in Chicago jail mentoring prostitutes. She also runs a weekly "Girl Talk" at the local school which mentors a group of at-risk girls. What it's really about: Brenda uncovers the secrets and lies passed down from generations in her community. The film shows girls and young women having the courage to change their lives by finally challenging a culture of silence and denial. Biggest challenge: Films are journeys and there are always obstacles to face. They seem horribly tough and.
- 1/12/2015
- by Casey Cipriani
- Indiewire
International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) unveils Signals line-up including a tribute to Korean director Jang Jin and a focus on artist Bruce McClure.
International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) has confirmed the Signals programme for its upcoming 44th edition (Jan 21 - Feb 1).
The final programme includes a tribute to Korean director Jang Jin, a focus on artist and filmmaker Bruce McClure and Made in Taiwan, a special addition to the annual Regained section.
Jang Jin is one of South Korea’s most famous modern playwrights and theatre directors and his films have included gangster movies and rom-coms. Iffr will host a 13-strong retrospective of his films including the European premiere of We Are Brothers.
Iffr’s focus on Bruce McClure will see the avant-garde artist present nine different performances on consecutive evenings under the generic title Opposition Brings Reunion. His presentation at Witte de With, Courting Daylight in Saving Darkness, is described as “his most elaborate and expansive...
International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) has confirmed the Signals programme for its upcoming 44th edition (Jan 21 - Feb 1).
The final programme includes a tribute to Korean director Jang Jin, a focus on artist and filmmaker Bruce McClure and Made in Taiwan, a special addition to the annual Regained section.
Jang Jin is one of South Korea’s most famous modern playwrights and theatre directors and his films have included gangster movies and rom-coms. Iffr will host a 13-strong retrospective of his films including the European premiere of We Are Brothers.
Iffr’s focus on Bruce McClure will see the avant-garde artist present nine different performances on consecutive evenings under the generic title Opposition Brings Reunion. His presentation at Witte de With, Courting Daylight in Saving Darkness, is described as “his most elaborate and expansive...
- 1/12/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The Athena Film Festival has pulled back the curtain on its 2015 lineup, revealing an array of notable narrative films, docs and shorts from 2014 as well as the new year. Running February 5 through February 8 on New York's Barnard College campus, the festival highlights women's leadership in cinema and in the film industry. The fest opens with the New York premiere of Kim Longinotto's "Dreamcatcher," a documentary about a former Chicago prostitute who battles to break the cycle of sex abuse and exploitation among young inner-city women. On Saturday, the little-seen backstage melodrama "Beyond the Lights" will screen along with a Q&A with writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood. Among the highly touted films in this year's lineup are: Gillian Robespierre's subversive abortion rom-com "Obvious Child" starring comedienne Jenny Slate, Lukas Moodysson's warm and wonderful punk band comedy "We Are the Best!", Afia Nathaniel's Pakistani...
- 1/9/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Athena Film Festival has revealed the complete lineup of films slated to screen over the course of the four-day festival. Now in its fifth year, the Athena Film Festival is a celebration of women and leadership in cinema, both on and off-screen. The fifth edition of the festival will open with Kim Longinotto's "Dreamcatcher," a documentary that centers on Brenda Myers-Powell, founder of The Dreamcatcher Foundation in Chicago, which serves youth throughout the city who are victims of sexual exploitation. Read More: Watch: Exclusive Trailer for Kim Longinoto's Sundance-Bound Doc 'Dreamcatcher'Other highlights from the lineup include festival honoree Gina Prince Bythewood's "Beyond the Lights," along with Gillian Robespierre's romantic comedy "Obvious Child" and "In the Game," a work-in-progress documentary about what it's like to be a Hispanic female soccer player. "These films were selected for the power of their stories to...
- 1/9/2015
- by Shipra Gupta
- Indiewire
The holidays are winding down and that means we at Ioncinema.com are gearing up for our annual pilgrimage to Park City where an A-list of documentaries is now set to premiere. Earlier this month Tabitha Jackson and the Sundance doc programming team let the cats out of the bag, unsurprisingly announcing much anticipated Us Doc Competition titles such as the Ross Brothers’ Western, Louie Psihoyos’ Racing Extinction, Marc Silver’s 3 1/2 Minutes and Lyric Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe’s (T)Error, along with some surprises like Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel’s bizarro Kickstarted doc Finders Keepers (see trailer below). Having been produced by the fine folks behind The King of Kong and Undefeated, the film bears all the markings of its well regarded pedigree, yet appears to be of even odder ilk, following the story that unfolded when a severed human foot was discovered in a grill bought at a North Carolina auction.
- 12/30/2014
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
Company closes deal for all UK and international rights to Kim Longinotto’s latest feature and sets a UK release date for March.
Dogwoof has acquired all UK and international rights to Kim Longinotto’s Dreamcatcher.
Selected for Sundance 2015, the film follows Brenda Myers-Powell, a former teenage prostitute, who runs Dreamcatcher foundation which aims to inspire young women to turn their lives around and follow their dreams.
The deal was agreed between Dogwoof and the production team of Rise Films, Green Acres Films and Vixen Films. Dogwoof and Rise Films previously worked together on Steve James’ The Interrupters.
Longinotto commented: “I’m thrilled to be working with Dogwoof; they truly are the dream team of documentary, and they know exactly how to get Dreamcatcher to the widest audience.”
“We are looking at one of the most memorable characters in recent years. Brenda’s magnetism teamed with Kim’s sensibility makes Dreamcatcher an irresistible story about reaching one’s dreams...
Dogwoof has acquired all UK and international rights to Kim Longinotto’s Dreamcatcher.
Selected for Sundance 2015, the film follows Brenda Myers-Powell, a former teenage prostitute, who runs Dreamcatcher foundation which aims to inspire young women to turn their lives around and follow their dreams.
The deal was agreed between Dogwoof and the production team of Rise Films, Green Acres Films and Vixen Films. Dogwoof and Rise Films previously worked together on Steve James’ The Interrupters.
Longinotto commented: “I’m thrilled to be working with Dogwoof; they truly are the dream team of documentary, and they know exactly how to get Dreamcatcher to the widest audience.”
“We are looking at one of the most memorable characters in recent years. Brenda’s magnetism teamed with Kim’s sensibility makes Dreamcatcher an irresistible story about reaching one’s dreams...
- 12/4/2014
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
Sundance ’15: Chuck Norris, Kim Longinotto & Louise Osmond Among 12 in World Documentary Competition
Supplying a wealth of treasures in just a dozen offerings, last year’s World Documentary Competition saw Talal Derki’s The Return to Homs claim the Grand Jury Prize over the likes of Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard’s 20,000 Days On Earth, Göran Hugo Olsson’s Concerning Violence, Nadav Schirman’s The Green Prince and Hubert Sauper’s We Come as Friends. Among the docus we recall from previous oeuvres, we have Sisters in Law‘s Kim Longinotto & Deep Water‘s Louise Osmond. Here is the group of twelve.
The Amina Profile / Canada (Director: Sophie Deraspe) — During the Arab revolution, a love story between two women — a Canadian and a Syrian American — turns into an international sociopolitical thriller spotlighting media excesses and the thin line between truth and falsehood on the Internet. World Premiere
Censored Voices / Israel, Germany (Director: Mor Loushy) — One week after the 1967 Six-Day War, renowned author Amos Oz...
The Amina Profile / Canada (Director: Sophie Deraspe) — During the Arab revolution, a love story between two women — a Canadian and a Syrian American — turns into an international sociopolitical thriller spotlighting media excesses and the thin line between truth and falsehood on the Internet. World Premiere
Censored Voices / Israel, Germany (Director: Mor Loushy) — One week after the 1967 Six-Day War, renowned author Amos Oz...
- 12/3/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.