Documentary

Motherhood and Moviemaking (Not Always in that Order)

erin — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:57:05 -0500

Sara Archambault has been thinking about how women in her life extend their roles as mothers into the way they think about social justice, fairness, and equality. As it happens, the women who came to mind are also making documentary films.

Wim Wenders’ 3D Learning Curve: Dancers Take Flight in "Pina"

erin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Wim Wenders’ films seduce viewers, leaving them punch drunk with his intoxicating imagery. Such is the case with Wenders’ Oscar-nominated documentary Pina, which blossoms as a cinematic poem of dancers in motion paying tribute to the filmmaker’s friend, the late choreographer Pina Bausch.

Postcard from Salem, Mass

erin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

In it's fifth year, the Salem Film Fest (an all-doc festival) put cement at the base of the flag it planted many years ago. Strong programming, an active volunteer base, enthusiastic business support, and wild audience response made for a powerful week for filmmakers and film lovers alike.

Fever Dreams, Middle-Eastern Video Diaries, the Quest for Inspiration, and Memories on Tap

erin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Utah, PARK CITY – For filmmakers, screenwriters, video artists and actors looking for inspiration or funding, or both, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival was the destination of choice. I started making the trek to Park City circa 2001, and I’ve been going, on and off, ever since, always on the lookout for undiscovered diamonds in the rough.

Approaches to End of the World Docs

erin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:28:54 -0600

Two social justice docs at IDFA targeted and systematically attacked the same universal villain: progress. Four Horsemen and Surviving Progress are both "big picture" documentaries that tackle some of today's most globally pressing issues.

IDFA 2011 - In Touch with the "Planet of Snail"

erin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

For two years South Korean director Seung-Jun Yi and his assistant director took a two-hour subway ride to the home of the deaf and blind poet Young-Chan and his wife Soon-Ho. The couple communicates through a technique of gentle finger tapping called finger-braille, developed by the Japanese deaf and blind professor Satoshi Fukushima.

IDFA 2011 - Int'l Perspectives on Digital Distribution and Doc Financing

erin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:18:10 -0600

Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam - A square crowded with coffee shops and clubs (and therefore crawling with tourists) is the proud center of the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the world’s largest doc fest and the beating—and oftentimes bleeding—heart of the documentary industry.

Casting His Bell

erin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Bosnian filmmaker Nedžad Begović has a knack for taking his own life as a point of departure for films that end up being about much more. And he’s not shy about his intent or the company he wants to keep.

The Lasting Effects of "Buck"

erin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

I went to see Buck for the usual reasons I go to see movies: because a friend urged me to, because I like to be informed, culturally enriched, entertained of course, and maybe if the film is good enough, inspired. I do not go to a movie for hope and solace, spiritual guidance and a renewed perspective on how to live a life that is good. And yet, this is what I got by seeing, Buck.

It's Alive!

erin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Director Chris Paine is back with a follow-up to his highly touted documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?, which celebrated the birth and mourned the death of the electric car. With help from a cast of unwavering advocates, Paine resurrects the vehicle in Revenge of the Electric Car.