Editor’s note: Filmmaker Nancy Kelly made her feature directorial debut in 1990 with the Western drama “Thousand Pieces of Gold.” A new 4K restoration by IndieCollect can currently be seen in virtual theaters via Kino Marquee. On the occasion of its new release, Kelly (along with IndieCollect’s Sandra Schulberg) wanted to share her reflections on her career both before and after its release.
Three years before I discovered Ruthanne Lum McCunn’s novel “Thousand Pieces of Gold,” I was making my living as a ranch hand. What was it that impelled me — from a working class background in a Massachusetts textile town — to pack up and head West? I had never even ridden a horse before, but I wanted an adventure. It was an impromptu decision that changed my life forever.
The cowboys didn’t know what to make of me — not much. But I broke my own horse,...
Three years before I discovered Ruthanne Lum McCunn’s novel “Thousand Pieces of Gold,” I was making my living as a ranch hand. What was it that impelled me — from a working class background in a Massachusetts textile town — to pack up and head West? I had never even ridden a horse before, but I wanted an adventure. It was an impromptu decision that changed my life forever.
The cowboys didn’t know what to make of me — not much. But I broke my own horse,...
- 4/30/2020
- by Nancy Kelly
- Indiewire
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’re highlighting the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and an archive of past round-ups here.
Bumblebee (Travis Knight)
With Bumblebee, director Travis Knight and writer Christina Hodson weave together two different movies: 1) A sensitive, familiar riff on E.T. about a young girl who, struggling with the recent death of her father, regains her confidence through a clandestine friendship with an alien and 2) A less bombastic version of a Michael Bay-helmed Transformers movie, complete with Autobot vs. Decepticon lore, mechanical fight scenes with grinding metal sounds high in the mix, explosions, etc. To their credit, Knight and Hodson semi-seamlessly combine both movies without too much tonal clash. It’s just a shame that the end result never amounts to more than a “fine,...
Bumblebee (Travis Knight)
With Bumblebee, director Travis Knight and writer Christina Hodson weave together two different movies: 1) A sensitive, familiar riff on E.T. about a young girl who, struggling with the recent death of her father, regains her confidence through a clandestine friendship with an alien and 2) A less bombastic version of a Michael Bay-helmed Transformers movie, complete with Autobot vs. Decepticon lore, mechanical fight scenes with grinding metal sounds high in the mix, explosions, etc. To their credit, Knight and Hodson semi-seamlessly combine both movies without too much tonal clash. It’s just a shame that the end result never amounts to more than a “fine,...
- 3/22/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Anne Makepeace and Joan Churchill have been making newsworthy documentaries for my own entire career.
Joan's father owned Churchill Films, one of the nation's leading educational film companies when such a thing existed to service schools, universities, libraries and special interest groups.
The concept has never died but today in this dearth of real news that matters, Anne Makepeace and Joan Churchill continue to make documentaries which perform a major service to those who care more about humanity than about dollars. Here is what Anne Makepeace writes:
Midsummer Madness
The dog days of summer are here, but we're still busy with two new films, madly fundraising and prepping for a shoot in Africa with Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu.
Bound for Kenya
In a few weeks, Joan Churchill and I will be filming Wangechi’s first family trip home in two decades. Meet the artist and see some of her astonishing work in the trailer below.
Filming Tribal Justice
It's a rare thing to find both of the judges we are featuring in the California Tribal Justice film in the same place. Judge Claudette White came up from the Quechan reservation in Southern California to Klamath on the North Coast for the Cross Court Cultural Exchange hosted by Yurok Judge Abby Abinanti.
We are fortunate to be filming with these strong, dedicated women who are working through their tribal courts to heal their people, keep their children, and revitalize their cultures by strengthening families and restoring traditional forms of justice.
Joan's father owned Churchill Films, one of the nation's leading educational film companies when such a thing existed to service schools, universities, libraries and special interest groups.
The concept has never died but today in this dearth of real news that matters, Anne Makepeace and Joan Churchill continue to make documentaries which perform a major service to those who care more about humanity than about dollars. Here is what Anne Makepeace writes:
Midsummer Madness
The dog days of summer are here, but we're still busy with two new films, madly fundraising and prepping for a shoot in Africa with Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu.
Bound for Kenya
In a few weeks, Joan Churchill and I will be filming Wangechi’s first family trip home in two decades. Meet the artist and see some of her astonishing work in the trailer below.
Filming Tribal Justice
It's a rare thing to find both of the judges we are featuring in the California Tribal Justice film in the same place. Judge Claudette White came up from the Quechan reservation in Southern California to Klamath on the North Coast for the Cross Court Cultural Exchange hosted by Yurok Judge Abby Abinanti.
We are fortunate to be filming with these strong, dedicated women who are working through their tribal courts to heal their people, keep their children, and revitalize their cultures by strengthening families and restoring traditional forms of justice.
- 7/19/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
It's a strong week for free films in Austin. The Sunset Supper Cinema at the Whole Foods flagship on Lamar is showing The Hunger (with a special Halloween treat). Most of the programming for this series has been decidedly family oriented; The Hunger is not. The Austin Pets Alive Fall Petsival on Sunday includes a special (and free) Rolling Roadshow screening of Cats & Dogs. Puppies and kittens of all shapes and sizes will be on hand for adoption.
The Apl/Klru Community Cinema series at the Apl Windsor Park Branch is still going strong. This series pairs socially relevant docs and community groups for post-screening discussions. On Tuesday they're showing We Still Live Here (Âs Nutayuneân), directed by Anne Makepeace. It's one of the free Apl screening programs.
Lastly, Cine Las Americas is showing Pedro Páramo at the MacC on Wednesday as part of its Literature in Mexican Cinema series.
The Apl/Klru Community Cinema series at the Apl Windsor Park Branch is still going strong. This series pairs socially relevant docs and community groups for post-screening discussions. On Tuesday they're showing We Still Live Here (Âs Nutayuneân), directed by Anne Makepeace. It's one of the free Apl screening programs.
Lastly, Cine Las Americas is showing Pedro Páramo at the MacC on Wednesday as part of its Literature in Mexican Cinema series.
- 10/28/2011
- by Jenn Brown
- Slackerwood
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
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: Buck Brannaman, better known in equestrian circles as the horse whisperer, continued to work his magic over crowds.
“Buck,” Cindy Meehl’s documentary on Brannaman’s unique career, took home the Audience Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, months after it claimed the same prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
It’s hard to resist Brannaman’s charms. His gift isn’t with horses – though he knows how to soothe those sometimes-savage beasts. Instead, Buck clicks with owners, explaining how a horse acts as a mirror into its rider’s soul (and some cowboys sure don’t like what they see). “Buck” certainly is a crowd-pleaser, and I can see why audiences at Full Frame were wooed.
But “Buck” wasn’t the only winner of the weekend. We’ve got the complete list of winners, announced Sunday in Durham, N.C., below:...
Hollywoodnews.com: Buck Brannaman, better known in equestrian circles as the horse whisperer, continued to work his magic over crowds.
“Buck,” Cindy Meehl’s documentary on Brannaman’s unique career, took home the Audience Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, months after it claimed the same prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
It’s hard to resist Brannaman’s charms. His gift isn’t with horses – though he knows how to soothe those sometimes-savage beasts. Instead, Buck clicks with owners, explaining how a horse acts as a mirror into its rider’s soul (and some cowboys sure don’t like what they see). “Buck” certainly is a crowd-pleaser, and I can see why audiences at Full Frame were wooed.
But “Buck” wasn’t the only winner of the weekend. We’ve got the complete list of winners, announced Sunday in Durham, N.C., below:...
- 4/18/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
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
The 8th annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is all set to run for ten days this Feb. 11-20 in Missoula, Montana. This year, the fest will have a whopping 140 film programs, a growth that necessitates an expansion from its regular home at the Historic Wilma Theatre — where it will occupy two screens — to also feature screenings at the former Pipestone Mountaineering store.
Special events at the fest include a free opening night screening of How to Die in Oregon sponsored by HBO Documentary Films. The film, directed by Peter D. Richardson, examines the impact the legalization of physician-assisted suicide has had on the state. (In 1994, Oregon was the first state to legalize the practice.)
Also, indie rock band Yo La Tengo will perform their acclaimed live score of the films of pioneering French underwater documentary film director Jean Painlevé, something they have done for other film festivals all over the world.
Special events at the fest include a free opening night screening of How to Die in Oregon sponsored by HBO Documentary Films. The film, directed by Peter D. Richardson, examines the impact the legalization of physician-assisted suicide has had on the state. (In 1994, Oregon was the first state to legalize the practice.)
Also, indie rock band Yo La Tengo will perform their acclaimed live score of the films of pioneering French underwater documentary film director Jean Painlevé, something they have done for other film festivals all over the world.
- 1/15/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
- If you want to get an early peek at some of the docu titles/docu subjects for future editions of the Sundance Film Festival, then grab an eyeful at the films and filmmakers that received grants from the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program. Here are the press release factoids for the 2009 grants: a record number of proposal submissions were received and considered for this round, totaling close to 900 applicants working in 61 countries. 15 feature documentary films in either development or in production/post-production will receive awards. The funded projects include nine U.S. stories, eight female directors and five first-time feature directors. Films funded tell stories of a cinema restoration project in the West Bank, the revival of an indigenous American language after being silenced for 150 years , a Cambodian journalist ‘s attempt to understand the men and women who took part in the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields, and a citizen
- 8/19/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
TEL AVIV, Israel -- The fifth annual DocAviv International Film Festival opens Wednesday at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque with 50 films from 18 countries set to screen until April 7. The festival has scheduled international and Israeli competitions, a Israeli student film competition, a section on China, and a masterclass by award-winning documentary filmmaker Anne Makepeace, who is accompanying her film Robert Capa: In Love and War, which screens in the International Competition. Festival entries include films from Latvia, the United States, Colombia and Australia.
- 3/28/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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