After a year-long hiatus the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its 26th edition, which will take place in Durham, N.C., from April 4-7. The festival will kick things off with “Girls State,” the Apple Original docu that premiered at Sundance earlier this year.
It’s been five years since Full Frame, often referred to as “a filmmaker’s festival,” was held as an in-person event. Full Frame was held entirely online for the 2020–22 festivals due to Covid-19. Then in 2023 the festival was put on hold last year due to financial struggles and leadership turnover at Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies (Cds), a nonprofit affiliate of the university that puts on the fest. Notably, Cds executive director Opeyemi Olukemi resigned last year. As reported by The Assembly, Olukemi, who took the role in 2021, was criticized as the Cds staff shrank and a bulk of...
It’s been five years since Full Frame, often referred to as “a filmmaker’s festival,” was held as an in-person event. Full Frame was held entirely online for the 2020–22 festivals due to Covid-19. Then in 2023 the festival was put on hold last year due to financial struggles and leadership turnover at Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies (Cds), a nonprofit affiliate of the university that puts on the fest. Notably, Cds executive director Opeyemi Olukemi resigned last year. As reported by The Assembly, Olukemi, who took the role in 2021, was criticized as the Cds staff shrank and a bulk of...
- 3/14/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Sundance award-winner Kneecap, The Outrun and Layla are among nine titles to receive the latest round of UK Global Screen Fund awards (Ukgsf), totalling £129,498 through its international distribution strand.
Administered by the British Film Institute (BFI), 66 awards totalling more than £2m have now been given out by this strand, financed through the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms).
Financial support for international distribution provides sales agents and producers with funding via three tracks – film sales, prints & advertising (P&a) and festival launch.
Rich Peppiatt’s Irish-language hip-hop drama Kneecap won the Next audience award at Sundance after...
Administered by the British Film Institute (BFI), 66 awards totalling more than £2m have now been given out by this strand, financed through the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms).
Financial support for international distribution provides sales agents and producers with funding via three tracks – film sales, prints & advertising (P&a) and festival launch.
Rich Peppiatt’s Irish-language hip-hop drama Kneecap won the Next audience award at Sundance after...
- 2/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
ABC’s The Bachelor Season 28 is here, and fans look forward to seeing who Joey Graziadei connects with on his first night as the new lead. Joey was a fan-favorite cast member in Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette, as he was kind and honest. So, who does he send home during the first night of his season? Here are The Bachelor 2024 spoilers regarding the first night’s eliminations.
[Spoiler alert: The Bachelor 2024 spoilers ahead regarding episode 1.]
‘The Bachelor’ 2024 spoilers: Who’s eliminated on night 1?
ABC’s The Bachelor 2024 is finally here, and fans get to see who Joey Graziadei connects with. Joey was a finalist in Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette, and they fell deeply in love with each other. Unfortunately for Joey, Charity didn’t choose him during the finale. She got engaged to Dotun Olubeko, leaving Joey heartbroken.
Now, Joey gets a chance to meet the woman of his dreams. The season...
[Spoiler alert: The Bachelor 2024 spoilers ahead regarding episode 1.]
‘The Bachelor’ 2024 spoilers: Who’s eliminated on night 1?
ABC’s The Bachelor 2024 is finally here, and fans get to see who Joey Graziadei connects with. Joey was a finalist in Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette, and they fell deeply in love with each other. Unfortunately for Joey, Charity didn’t choose him during the finale. She got engaged to Dotun Olubeko, leaving Joey heartbroken.
Now, Joey gets a chance to meet the woman of his dreams. The season...
- 1/22/2024
- by Lauren Weiler
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Is AVOD the solution for struggling indie doc filmmakers?
“Beyond Utopia,” “A Still Small Voice,” “Deep Rising,” “It’s Only Life After All,” “Going Varsity in Mariachi,” and “The Grab” are all documentary titles that garnered good reviews, positive audience feedback and plenty of media attention at major film festivals including this year’s Sundance and last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. But despite the high visibility, each title is still seeking distribution.
The chances of any of the six titles garnering a highly coveted distribution deal isn’t likely given the state of the entertainment industry at present. The dismal distribution landscape has forced some nonfiction filmmakers to turn to substantially less lucrative alternatives, such as ad-supported VOD, or AVOD channels, and revenue-sharing arrangements to get their work seen.
That list include filmmakers Violet Columbus and Ben Klein, who directed the 2022 Sundance grand jury prize documentary winner “The Exiles.
“Beyond Utopia,” “A Still Small Voice,” “Deep Rising,” “It’s Only Life After All,” “Going Varsity in Mariachi,” and “The Grab” are all documentary titles that garnered good reviews, positive audience feedback and plenty of media attention at major film festivals including this year’s Sundance and last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. But despite the high visibility, each title is still seeking distribution.
The chances of any of the six titles garnering a highly coveted distribution deal isn’t likely given the state of the entertainment industry at present. The dismal distribution landscape has forced some nonfiction filmmakers to turn to substantially less lucrative alternatives, such as ad-supported VOD, or AVOD channels, and revenue-sharing arrangements to get their work seen.
That list include filmmakers Violet Columbus and Ben Klein, who directed the 2022 Sundance grand jury prize documentary winner “The Exiles.
- 6/30/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Awards season keeps ticking right along, but tonight’s Cinema Eye Honors promised at least a tiny respite from narrative-based filmmaking, as the New York City-set ceremony is all about honoring the best in the year’s documentary filmmaking.
Big winners included Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson,” which picked up Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking, along with editing and cinematography wins. Right behind it was Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America,” which earned Edelman a directing win, along with a production win for Edelman and Caroline Waterlow. Best TV offering went to “Making a Murderer.”
Nominations were lead by Raoul Peck’s “I Am Not Your Negro” and “O.J.: Made in America,” which each pulled in five nominations apiece, though Johnson’s “Cameraperson” and Gianfranco Rosi’s “Fire at Sea” aren’t far behind, with four nominations each. Both Peck and Rosi’s features ultimately walked away without an award.
Big winners included Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson,” which picked up Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking, along with editing and cinematography wins. Right behind it was Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America,” which earned Edelman a directing win, along with a production win for Edelman and Caroline Waterlow. Best TV offering went to “Making a Murderer.”
Nominations were lead by Raoul Peck’s “I Am Not Your Negro” and “O.J.: Made in America,” which each pulled in five nominations apiece, though Johnson’s “Cameraperson” and Gianfranco Rosi’s “Fire at Sea” aren’t far behind, with four nominations each. Both Peck and Rosi’s features ultimately walked away without an award.
- 1/12/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The nominees for the 10th annual Cinema Eye Honors have been announced, with “I Am Not Your Negro” and “Oj: Made in America” both receiving five each. They’re followed in short order by “Cameraperson” and “Fire at Sea,” which along with “Weiner” are all in contention for the top prize. A total of 37 features and five shorts will be in contention at the upcoming ceremony, which “Hoop Dreams” director Steve James will host from the Museum of the Moving Image on January 11. Here’s the full list of nominees:
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
“Cameraperson” (Kirsten Johnson)
“Fire at Sea” (Gianfranco Rosi)
“I Am Not Your Negro” (Raoul Peck)
“Oj: Made in America” (Ezra Edelman)
“Weiner” (Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg)
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Kirsten Johnson, “Cameraperson”
Gianfranco Rosi, “Fire at Sea”
Raoul Peck, “I Am Not Your Negro”
Robert Greene, “Kate Plays Christine”
Ezra Edelman, “Oj:...
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
“Cameraperson” (Kirsten Johnson)
“Fire at Sea” (Gianfranco Rosi)
“I Am Not Your Negro” (Raoul Peck)
“Oj: Made in America” (Ezra Edelman)
“Weiner” (Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg)
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Kirsten Johnson, “Cameraperson”
Gianfranco Rosi, “Fire at Sea”
Raoul Peck, “I Am Not Your Negro”
Robert Greene, “Kate Plays Christine”
Ezra Edelman, “Oj:...
- 11/2/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
For one week in November, virtually the entire documentary film community will gather in New York City for the Doc NYC film festival, where this year’s most acclaimed non-fiction films will screen. With all that talent and experience gathered in one place, Doc NYC has decided to channel it toward a new eight-day conference focusing on the tools and skills needed to fund, create and distribute documentary films.
Read More: ‘Weiner,’ Yes; ‘The Eagle Huntress,’ No: The 15 Documentaries on the Doc NYC Short List
Doc NYC Pro is geared toward documentary professionals looking to advance their careers and filmmaking skills and will be comprised of talks, panels, masterclasses and pitch sessions featuring filmmakers and decision makers behind films like “Weiner,” “O.J.: Made in America,” “Amanda Knox” and “Cartel Land.”
Each day of Doc NYC Pro will begin with a “morning manifesto,” featuring speakers Laura Poitras (“Citizenfour”), Josh Kriegman and...
Read More: ‘Weiner,’ Yes; ‘The Eagle Huntress,’ No: The 15 Documentaries on the Doc NYC Short List
Doc NYC Pro is geared toward documentary professionals looking to advance their careers and filmmaking skills and will be comprised of talks, panels, masterclasses and pitch sessions featuring filmmakers and decision makers behind films like “Weiner,” “O.J.: Made in America,” “Amanda Knox” and “Cartel Land.”
Each day of Doc NYC Pro will begin with a “morning manifesto,” featuring speakers Laura Poitras (“Citizenfour”), Josh Kriegman and...
- 10/14/2016
- by Casey Coit
- Indiewire
Los Angeles, CA (October 10, 2016) . The Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja) have announced the nominees for the inaugural Critics. Choice Documentary Awards. The winners will be presented their awards at a gala event on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at Bric, in Brooklyn, New York.
.It is an amazing time for documentaries, with the ever-increasing number of platforms enabling producers to reach enthusiastic and growing audiences for non-fiction storytelling,. said Bfca and Btja President Joey Berlin.
.This is clearly demonstrated in the depth and quality of our inaugural nominees. We have a wealth of brilliant creators who are bringing to light some of the most entertaining and illuminating stories being told today. Indeed, documentary filmmaking is modern investigative journalism. We look forward to celebrating all these fine and important achievements at the first Critics. Choice Documentary Awards gala on November 3rd..
13th, 30 For 30: O.J.: Made in America...
.It is an amazing time for documentaries, with the ever-increasing number of platforms enabling producers to reach enthusiastic and growing audiences for non-fiction storytelling,. said Bfca and Btja President Joey Berlin.
.This is clearly demonstrated in the depth and quality of our inaugural nominees. We have a wealth of brilliant creators who are bringing to light some of the most entertaining and illuminating stories being told today. Indeed, documentary filmmaking is modern investigative journalism. We look forward to celebrating all these fine and important achievements at the first Critics. Choice Documentary Awards gala on November 3rd..
13th, 30 For 30: O.J.: Made in America...
- 10/11/2016
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja) have announced the nominees for their inaugural Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, taking place next month at a first-time gala event in Brooklyn, New York. Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America” and Clay Tweel’s “Gleason” lead the pack of nominees, with five nominations each. Other nominees include Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson,” the gob-smacking “Weiner” and recent Netflix features “Amanda Knox” and “Audrie & Daisy.”
“It is an amazing time for documentaries, with the ever-increasing number of platforms enabling producers to reach enthusiastic and growing audiences for non-fiction storytelling,” said Bfca and Btja President Joey Berlin. “This is clearly demonstrated in the depth and quality of our inaugural nominees. We have a wealth of brilliant creators who are bringing to light some of the most entertaining and illuminating stories being told today. Indeed, documentary filmmaking is modern investigative journalism.
“It is an amazing time for documentaries, with the ever-increasing number of platforms enabling producers to reach enthusiastic and growing audiences for non-fiction storytelling,” said Bfca and Btja President Joey Berlin. “This is clearly demonstrated in the depth and quality of our inaugural nominees. We have a wealth of brilliant creators who are bringing to light some of the most entertaining and illuminating stories being told today. Indeed, documentary filmmaking is modern investigative journalism.
- 10/10/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Brooklyn-based filmmaker has launched a Virtual Reality content studio focusing on non-fiction films and enlisted the support of world-class documentarians including Marshall Curry and Jessica Edwards.
Hustwit’s privately backed Scenic will fund and produce original Vr (virtual reality) documentary shorts and series made by a collective of renowned independent filmmakers and will also work with brands and organisations on commissioned projects.
The films will cover an array of subjects and debut on the company’s website and app and through exclusive distribution partners. They will also be viewable on Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear Vr, Oculus Rift, and other Vr platforms.
Besides Curry and Edwards, the initial stable of content creators includes Amir Bar-Lev, Curry, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, Liz Garbus, Sam Green, Dawn Porter, and filmmaker-artist Lucy Raven.
“There’s so much focus on Virtual Reality as a technology, but Vr won’t achieve mass adoption without great content,” said Hustwit...
Hustwit’s privately backed Scenic will fund and produce original Vr (virtual reality) documentary shorts and series made by a collective of renowned independent filmmakers and will also work with brands and organisations on commissioned projects.
The films will cover an array of subjects and debut on the company’s website and app and through exclusive distribution partners. They will also be viewable on Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear Vr, Oculus Rift, and other Vr platforms.
Besides Curry and Edwards, the initial stable of content creators includes Amir Bar-Lev, Curry, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, Liz Garbus, Sam Green, Dawn Porter, and filmmaker-artist Lucy Raven.
“There’s so much focus on Virtual Reality as a technology, but Vr won’t achieve mass adoption without great content,” said Hustwit...
- 4/7/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
A workaday music documentary is lifted by its subject’s warm presence and magnetic performances
Sometimes you have to be thankful for shabbily assembled music documentaries like these, if only for the fact that they alert you to some killer archive footage on the internet. In this case: Mavis Staples taking lead vocals on the gospel stormer Sit Down Servant, her sad-eyed countenance entirely at odds with the eruptive and sensual power of her vocals – like honey served on sandpaper.
The formidable presence of this powerhouse vocalist is the engine that allows Jessica Edwards’s otherwise functional pop profile to putter along nicely. Covering the vital bond she cultivated with her father and musical sage Roebuck “Pops” Staples, via smooching with Bob Dylan, embracing civil rights, creative reinventions and an ill-advised collaboration with Prince, the film’s chief pleasure is that it allows you some vital hang time with this obscenely affable artist.
Sometimes you have to be thankful for shabbily assembled music documentaries like these, if only for the fact that they alert you to some killer archive footage on the internet. In this case: Mavis Staples taking lead vocals on the gospel stormer Sit Down Servant, her sad-eyed countenance entirely at odds with the eruptive and sensual power of her vocals – like honey served on sandpaper.
The formidable presence of this powerhouse vocalist is the engine that allows Jessica Edwards’s otherwise functional pop profile to putter along nicely. Covering the vital bond she cultivated with her father and musical sage Roebuck “Pops” Staples, via smooching with Bob Dylan, embracing civil rights, creative reinventions and an ill-advised collaboration with Prince, the film’s chief pleasure is that it allows you some vital hang time with this obscenely affable artist.
- 2/21/2016
- by David Jenkins
- The Guardian - Film News
★★★☆☆ Music journalists must have a hard time describing the voice of an artist as exceptional and influential as Mavis Staples. From bassy depths soars a finely calibrated howitzer of sorrowful joy, erupting between mellow moments of syrupy-smooth soul. Perhaps Rolling Stone could say it better. A real firecracker, and fully deserving of the exclamation mark attached to this loving bio- documentary, Mavis! tells the remarkable life story of a woman whose career spans more than six decades and - with the help of a cane or a friendly arm to lean on - is still going strong. Writer- director Jessica Edwards opts for a tone of all-out adulation, which admittedly is well earned.
- 2/19/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Passion and warmth radiate from this documentary, in which the singer looks back at her upbringing and admits to a relationship with Bob Dylan
Richness, warmth and tenderness pulse from this lovely documentary. It is a study of Mavis Staples, the gospel singer and former member of her family group the Staple Singers, known for – among many other hits – I’ll Take You There. At 76, she is still touring, with as much energy as ever.
The film tracks Mavis’s instinctive meshing of gospel and blues to create something passionately sensuous without being crudely sexual. It charts her relationship with her father, Roebuck “Pops” Staples, who was not the stereotypical showbiz tyrant but a gentle, loving man and a real musical innovator. And film-maker Jessica Edwards touches on what must be one of the great hidden love stories in music history. Bob Dylan fell head over heels in love with...
Richness, warmth and tenderness pulse from this lovely documentary. It is a study of Mavis Staples, the gospel singer and former member of her family group the Staple Singers, known for – among many other hits – I’ll Take You There. At 76, she is still touring, with as much energy as ever.
The film tracks Mavis’s instinctive meshing of gospel and blues to create something passionately sensuous without being crudely sexual. It charts her relationship with her father, Roebuck “Pops” Staples, who was not the stereotypical showbiz tyrant but a gentle, loving man and a real musical innovator. And film-maker Jessica Edwards touches on what must be one of the great hidden love stories in music history. Bob Dylan fell head over heels in love with...
- 2/18/2016
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Celebrating the extraordinary gospel and soul music legend and civil rights icon, who rose to fame as lead singer of the legendary family group The Staple Singers, the first feature documentary on her life, "Mavis!", debuts Monday, February 29, 9:00-10:25 p.m. Et/Pt, exclusively on HBO, the network announced today. Jessica Edwards directs. In conjunction with the film's HBO debut, her new album, "Livin' on a High Note," will be released by Anti- on Feb. 19. Highlighted by dynamic live performances, recent behind-the-scenes video, rare archival footage and recordings, and conversations with friends and collaborators, among them Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Tweedy,...
- 2/8/2016
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Directed by Jessica Edwards, the Film First documentary "Mavis!" (on the life of Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers), was picked up by HBO (U.S. television rights) last year, after its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. The network has set a Monday, February 29 at 9pm HBO premiere for the film, and has released a first trailer for it, which is embedded below. "We are beyond thrilled to have HBO as our broadcast partner," Film First said in a previous press statement. "They've always been such a huge supporter of documentary films. We can't wait to share the inspiration and joy of Mavis's music and story with HBO...
- 2/2/2016
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Nothing fits the music documentary format quite so compellingly as a life cut tragically short. In addition to the ready-made dramatic arc, a subject who leaves this mortal coil before their time usually also leaves a certain amount of mystery in their wake, providing ample grist for filmmakers (and the folks they interview) to chew on.
Even when the hows and whys of an artist's tragic exit are a matter of uncontroversial record, questions of "What might have been?" inevitably linger over their prematurely truncated discography — in itself a far...
Even when the hows and whys of an artist's tragic exit are a matter of uncontroversial record, questions of "What might have been?" inevitably linger over their prematurely truncated discography — in itself a far...
- 12/31/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Submarine announced at International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) it has licensed Jessica Edwards’ Mavis! and Laura Israel’s Don’t Blink - Robert Frank in multiple territories.
Mavis! has gone to Madman in Australia and New Zealand, Films We Like in Canada, NonStop Entertainment in Scandinavia and Ntr for Dutch TV. Submarine represents remaining Us rights.
David Koh brokered the deals for Submarine and the filmmaker with Madman Entertainment managing director Paul Wiegard, Ron Mann of Films We Like, CEO Jakob Abrammsson of NonStop and Ntr head of documentary acquisitions Nathalie Windhorst.
Mavis! is screening at Idfa and chronicles the life of gospel/soul singer and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, the Staple Singers.
Don’t Blink - Robert Frank (pictured) has gone to Nfp Films in Germany and Austria, Films We Like in Canada and Feltrinelli in Italy.
Koh negotiated the deals with managing director Christophe Ott of Nfp Films, Mann of...
Mavis! has gone to Madman in Australia and New Zealand, Films We Like in Canada, NonStop Entertainment in Scandinavia and Ntr for Dutch TV. Submarine represents remaining Us rights.
David Koh brokered the deals for Submarine and the filmmaker with Madman Entertainment managing director Paul Wiegard, Ron Mann of Films We Like, CEO Jakob Abrammsson of NonStop and Ntr head of documentary acquisitions Nathalie Windhorst.
Mavis! is screening at Idfa and chronicles the life of gospel/soul singer and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, the Staple Singers.
Don’t Blink - Robert Frank (pictured) has gone to Nfp Films in Germany and Austria, Films We Like in Canada and Feltrinelli in Italy.
Koh negotiated the deals with managing director Christophe Ott of Nfp Films, Mann of...
- 11/22/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
76-year-old Mavis Staples hasn’t run out of songs to sing or stuff to say. Mavis! depicts the legendary singer’s journey across genres and through decades of performances with clips from past and present. Much of Mavis! is spent in the lively and instantly delightful presence of the titular singer. Whether listening to her booming vocals or watching her warmly point and smile at someone in her audience, Mavis Staples makes for an endearing narrator for her own story. Despite the documentary’s lack of extensive details, Mavis! provides a comprehensive look at the vocalist’s life and career, punctuated by insightful talking head tidbits.
Tracing Mavis’ roots from her childhood years in Chicago through her more recent tours and collaborations with Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, Mavis! looks beyond the music to profile The Staple Singers family and their position in a burgeoning civil rights movement.
One thing that...
Tracing Mavis’ roots from her childhood years in Chicago through her more recent tours and collaborations with Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, Mavis! looks beyond the music to profile The Staple Singers family and their position in a burgeoning civil rights movement.
One thing that...
- 11/1/2015
- by Zachary Shevich
- We Got This Covered
The incendiary soul singer Sharon Jones already had a few fans in the room when Barbara Koppel’s documentary “Miss Sharon Jones!” made its world premiere Friday night during the Toronto International Film Festival. By the end of the movie (which is seeking distribution), everybody in the place had a jones for Jones. The narrative arc of the film is the diminutive (“four foot 11 and a quarter”) singer’s more than year-long battle with cancer -- and her return to performing. But by lavishing huge helpings of Jones’ music and explosive performances on what is a very intimate portrait, the two-time-Oscar-winning Koppel keeps the doc from ever becoming maudlin, or predictable, or from even slowing down. There's certainly an Oscar-friendly trend afoot: Jessica Edwards’ Mavis Staples movie “Mavis” is out there, as is Liz Garbus’ “What Happened, Miss Simone?” and, of course, Asif Kapadia’s “Amy”; Amy Berg’s Janis Joplin...
- 9/12/2015
- by John Anderson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Read More: The 25 Best Documentaries of the 21st Century So Far 1. Convince your subject that your "film is not about sitting down and doing another interview." Jessica Edwards, first-time director of "Mavis," the documentary about legendary gospel singer Mavis Staples, attributes this single bit of advice to making her film happen in the first place. Edwards explained that Staples got on board with the film because she Edwards made it clear she would have the space she wanted to talk about something important to her: her family's legacy and their ties to Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement. Edwards added that Mavis' stories about "performing with Curtis Mayfield and making out with Bob Dylan" were legendary vignettes that added color to a much broader story. 2. Forget the "Wikipedia personal history." Edwards' biggest worry while shooting was that she was telling the world about everything Mavis. "Early on,...
- 6/9/2015
- by Elle Leonsis
- Indiewire
Read More: Watch: A Civil Rights Icon and Music Legend Gets the Documentary Treatment in 'Mavis!' Trailer Film First announced today that it has reached North American distribution deals with both HBO and Films We Like for "Mavis!" the first feature documentary about civil rights activist and gospel-soul music legend Mavis Staples. Directed by Jessica Edwards ("Seltzer Works," "Tugs"), the film marks her first feature documentary and premiered to a standing ovation at SXSW 2015. "Mavis!" showcases Staples throughout her life and career, following her from family group The Staple Singers, to singing gospel in church, to civil rights songs and more recent collaborations. In addition, the film will debut little-seen footage of her performances and conversations with other musical legends including Bob Dylan and Bonnie Raitt. "We can't wait to share the inspiration and joy of Mavis's music and story with HBO...
- 4/10/2015
- by Becca Nadler
- Indiewire
The first day at SXSW, the 4th floor. “What’s this line for?” I asked the woman standing next to me. “No idea,” she said. But it wasn’t a line for anything. The crowd was just there. And as I pushed my way through, it slowly started to dissipate. It was like one of those highway slowdowns, where the memory of congestion lingers after whatever caused it.
If you’re going to sponsor a festival, at least do something useful, like this rolling Samsung display of panel times, schedule changes and social media activity.
When you check into SXSW, you’re given three things: the catalog, your badge, and a punch card giving you one free Macallan single malt a day.
I have wished there was one of these guys — except promising Blackberry repair — at Sundance.
Lonelygirl15 creator Mesh Flinders at the Austin Convention Center. Several years later, has...
If you’re going to sponsor a festival, at least do something useful, like this rolling Samsung display of panel times, schedule changes and social media activity.
When you check into SXSW, you’re given three things: the catalog, your badge, and a punch card giving you one free Macallan single malt a day.
I have wished there was one of these guys — except promising Blackberry repair — at Sundance.
Lonelygirl15 creator Mesh Flinders at the Austin Convention Center. Several years later, has...
- 3/12/2011
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
SXSW Film Festival Announces Midnight Features & Shorts
Austin, TX – Today the SXSW Film Festival revealed their Midnight Features & Shorts program.
The Midnighters section of SXSW is known for premiering the work future stars of the horror genre. Filmmakers Eli Roth, and Ti West, are a few notable directors who have had their films screened during the Midnight Features.
”Our midnight programs are the bloody, beating heart of SXSW,” said SXSW Film Conference & Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “Since the beginning, midnight films have been an essential ingredient to what makes SXSW so exciting and fun, and this year’s selections are no exception.”
Out of over 3000 short films submitted, only 150 were chosen, and will screen as part of twelve overall shorts programs.
“After months of reviewing a record number of submissions, we’re tremendously happy to share the final program,” said Shorts Programmers Claudette Godfrey and Stephanie Noone, “The short films...
Austin, TX – Today the SXSW Film Festival revealed their Midnight Features & Shorts program.
The Midnighters section of SXSW is known for premiering the work future stars of the horror genre. Filmmakers Eli Roth, and Ti West, are a few notable directors who have had their films screened during the Midnight Features.
”Our midnight programs are the bloody, beating heart of SXSW,” said SXSW Film Conference & Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “Since the beginning, midnight films have been an essential ingredient to what makes SXSW so exciting and fun, and this year’s selections are no exception.”
Out of over 3000 short films submitted, only 150 were chosen, and will screen as part of twelve overall shorts programs.
“After months of reviewing a record number of submissions, we’re tremendously happy to share the final program,” said Shorts Programmers Claudette Godfrey and Stephanie Noone, “The short films...
- 2/11/2011
- by Albert Art
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Following the unveiling of the fantastic 2011 feature line-up last week, the South by Southwest Film Festival has announced the films selected to play at midnight throughout the nine-day event, as well as the complete list of short films.
Insidious, a haunted house flick from Saw director James Wan, is among the midnight program, along with Xavier Gen’s sci-fi thriller The Divide, Sundance favorite Hobo With a Shotgun, Argentinean entry Phase 7, and Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block. In previous years, the midnight and SXFantastic programs has helped launch the careers of Gareth Edwards (Monsters) and Eli Roth (Hostel).
Spike Jonze returns to the festival with another short film titled Scenes from the Suburbs, his second collaboration with (and about) the band Arcade Fire after his moving feature Where the Wild Things Are.
For those of you attending the festival, the schedule will be released on February 15 along with details about film-related panels.
Insidious, a haunted house flick from Saw director James Wan, is among the midnight program, along with Xavier Gen’s sci-fi thriller The Divide, Sundance favorite Hobo With a Shotgun, Argentinean entry Phase 7, and Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block. In previous years, the midnight and SXFantastic programs has helped launch the careers of Gareth Edwards (Monsters) and Eli Roth (Hostel).
Spike Jonze returns to the festival with another short film titled Scenes from the Suburbs, his second collaboration with (and about) the band Arcade Fire after his moving feature Where the Wild Things Are.
For those of you attending the festival, the schedule will be released on February 15 along with details about film-related panels.
- 2/10/2011
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Today the midnight features and short sections were announced for SXSW 2011.
This year the midnight features section has some awesome films, including Hobo With A Shotgun, James Wan’s Insidious, Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block, Xavier Gens’ The Divide, and Ben Wheatley’s Kill List. This years shorts include 150 films including, Spike Jonze’s Scenes from the Suburbs and a doc short from Jay Duplass.
Here's the full list of SXSW 2011 midnights and shorts:
Midnight Features
Midnighters
Scary, funny, sexy, controversial – provocative after-dark features for night owls and the terminally curious.
Films screening in Midnighters are:
Attack The Block (UK-England)
Director & Writer: Joe Cornish
A funny, frightening action adventure movie that pits a teen gang against an invasion of alien monsters. It turns a tower block into a sci-fi playground. It’s inner city versus outer space. Cast: Jodie Whittaker, John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard,...
This year the midnight features section has some awesome films, including Hobo With A Shotgun, James Wan’s Insidious, Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block, Xavier Gens’ The Divide, and Ben Wheatley’s Kill List. This years shorts include 150 films including, Spike Jonze’s Scenes from the Suburbs and a doc short from Jay Duplass.
Here's the full list of SXSW 2011 midnights and shorts:
Midnight Features
Midnighters
Scary, funny, sexy, controversial – provocative after-dark features for night owls and the terminally curious.
Films screening in Midnighters are:
Attack The Block (UK-England)
Director & Writer: Joe Cornish
A funny, frightening action adventure movie that pits a teen gang against an invasion of alien monsters. It turns a tower block into a sci-fi playground. It’s inner city versus outer space. Cast: Jodie Whittaker, John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard,...
- 2/10/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Last night Thom Powers screened two docs, Jessica Edwards‘ short, Seltzer Works and Gregory Kallenberg’s feature, Haynesville as the penultimate screening in his Spring Stranger Than Fiction series. The series rarely features shorts, but Powers credited the move to the fact that both films focused on gas crises – one very small, one very large, both man-made. Deftly shot, Seltzer Works is a carefully composed bit of nostalgia for a time when deliverymen schlepped heavy glass bottles full of fizzy water all over Brooklyn. A portrait of a third-generation seltzer man struggling to survive in a world that no longer needs him, Edwards treats her subject with dignity without lapsing into self-seriousness. Haynesville tells...
- 6/2/2010
- by Mary Anderson Casavant
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
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