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 May 2, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Hollywood Chinese" Director Arthur Dong
Documentary director Arthur Dong has been working since the early 1980s, when one of his first shorts, "Sewing Woman," was nominated for an Academy Award. Since then, he has directed a series of docs on political and social issues, including 1994's Peabody Award winning "Coming Out Under Fire" and 1997's Sundance favorite "Licensed To Kill," which took a chilling look at the lives of people convicted of violent hate crimes against gay men (Dong himself was a victim of gay bashing in 1977). His latest work, "Hollywood Chinese," goes in a different but certainly not less imperative direction, examining the placement of Asian-Americans in Hollywood cinema. Premiering at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, the doc shines a light on decades of underwhelming representations. The film opens Friday, May 2 at New York's Quad Cinemas. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews ]  DOC COLUMN | Arts Engine Celebrates 10 Years
Ten years can either be a blip or an eternity depending on your perspective. The year 1997 saw President Bill Clinton inaugurated for his second term, James Cameron's "Titantic" was the top movie and a book about a young wizard named Harry Potter first hit shelves. It was before the Internet stock bust and "information superhighway" was still a promise. The world of documentary in the U.S. was one of foundation funding, public television broadcast and educational distribution with precious few docs breaking into any kind of commercial success. It was in that entrenched world that then-new filmmakers Katy Chevigny and Julia Pimsleur felt like they had little opportunity. [ read more in Biz ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Trends ] April 30, 2008 iW NEWS | THINKFilm Makes Theatrical & Home Video Deal for "Roman Polanski" Doc
U.S. theatrical and home video rights to Sundance '08 doc "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" have been acquired by THINKFilm from HBO, which acquired the title at the festival in January. "Polanski" will have its international premiere at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. HBO will air the film on June 9th, and THINK will launch a theatrical roll out beginning July 11 in New York. Directed by Marina Zenovich, the film spotlights the the public scandal and private tragedy that drove the legendary director from the United States more than 30 years ago. "Marina's film is one of the best documentaries I've seen in years," commented Urman in a statement. "It is as compulsively enjoyable as the juiciest tabloid yet it also serves as a stunning indictment of our tabloid-crazed culture. Buoyed by HBO's terrific promotional support, the film should have enormous want-to-see, and exhibitor interest in the film couldn't be higher." The deal, which was jointly announced by THINKFilm president Mark Urman and Sheila Nevins, president, HBO Documentary Films, and is the latest collaboration between the two companies, whose series of partnerships has included recent Oscar-winner, "Taxi to the Dark Side.." Last month, reported on the film's brief Oscar-qualifying run, which indieWIRE. [Brian Brooks]  [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes, Documentary ] April 28, 2008iW NEWS | Hot Docs Leaps In Attendance, Awards "Root"
The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival finished up Sunday, with a record-breaking attendance of 85,000, a 25% increase over last year. The 11 day festival screened 172 films from 36 countries. "The success of this year's Festival is a testament to our audiences," said Executive Director Chris McDonald in a statement. "Their passion for docs and investment in the Festival is inspiring. Filmmakers love screening their work in this city." The festival announced most of its juried awards Friday, but two awards were announced Sunday, including the Hot Docs Audience Award, which was awarded to Lisa Merton and Alan Dater's "Taking Root: The Vision of the Wangari Maathai." Runners-up were Benson Lee's "Planet B-Boy" and Kurt Kuenne's "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father." The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Prize for best Canadian documentary was also announced, going to Pierre Mignault and Helene Magny's "Shock Waves." The CIDA Award comes with a $5,000 prize. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals, Honors ] April 27, 2008 Nonfiction Campaign: Can Errol Morris's "Standard Operating Procedure" Break the Political Doc Deadlock?
Election years are typically strong for political documentaries. Capitalizing on citizens' hunger for issues that the mainstream media is either ignoring or mishandling, audiences flock to theaters to get a deeper sense of what's going on in the world. At least that was the thinking in 2004, with the blockbuster sales of "Fahrenheit 9/11" and also given the multi-million-dollar grosses of "The Fog of War," "Control Room," "Super Size Me," and "The Corporation." Even "Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry" wasn't swift-boated in theaters, earning more than $614,000. [ read more in Biz ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Trends ] April 22, 2008 DISPATCH FROM TORONTO | Documentary Filmmaking and "The Long Haul"
Termed "the longitudinal documentary" by Hot Docs Director of Programming Sean Farnel, films that follow a character or story over an extended period of time are increasingly problematic these days. Deals with distributors or television networks put pressure on the time a doc has to finish, often limiting the diachronic scope of the project. Three feature films screening at the 2008 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival: Jens Hoffman's "20 Seconds of Joy," Greg Kohs' "Song Sung Blue," and Nik Sheehan's "Flicker," exemplfy this increasingly rare form in documentary filmmaking. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story ] iW NEWS | CFC and NFB Launch Doc Development Program
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and the National Film Board (NFB) have joined forces to create Canada's first program to develop theatrical documentaries. The CFC NFB Feature Documentary Program, announced Tuesday at a Hot Docs event in Toronto, will launch in January 2009 with the goal of developing "successful original feature documentaries for international cinema audiences." The six-month program is designed to help directors develop cinematic documentaries that will combine weeks of residency at the CFC with project-specific mentorship from documentary talents."From 'Manufactured Landscapes' to the most recent critically acclaimed 'Up The Yangtze,' Canadian feature documentaries continue to dazzle audiences worldwide with their cinematic vision and masterful storytelling," said Slawko Klymkiw, CFC Executive Director, in a statement. "s CFC commences our 20th year of leadership in training content creators, we are proud to launch this new program with the NFB." The submission deadline is August 28, 2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ] indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Standard Operating Procedure" Director Errol Morris
Boston-based Errol Morris is that rarity among filmmakers: an intense documentarian (he has worked as a private investigator) and a great aestheticist. Harper's called him "the most obsessive and relentless forensic documentary filmmaker of our time." He probes thoroughly, interviewing his exceptionally candid subjects through a device he invented known as the Interrotron, a two-camera set-up allowing the interviewee to see Morris but also inviting the viewer into an eyeline rapport with the witness. "Standard Operating Procedure" is in the tradition of Morris's "The Thin Blue Line" (1988), in which he spoke to many people in pursuit of the truth about a murder case, rather than, say, "The Fog of War" (2003), in which he deconstructed top decisionmaker Robert McNamara's role in the Vietnam War. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] April 19, 2008DISPATCH FROM TORONTO | Hometown "Demi-Gods of Metal" Kick Off Toronto's Hot Docs Fest
The 15th edition of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival started off with a (head) bang in Toronto Thursday night, showcasing the Canadian premiere of Sacha Gervasi's "Anvil! The Story of Anvil." Taking the stage of the historic Winter Garden to introduce the film, Hot Docs' Executive Director Chris McDonald proudly declared the festival "the finest collection of documentaries anywhere." With 174 films from 36 countries screening over 11 days, Hot Docs has grown into the largest documentary festival in North America, blasting out of the shadow of the Toronto International Film Festival to become a major industry event in its own right. The festival now welcomes some 2,000 delegates and 80,000 filmgoers, double the numbers from just three years ago. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story ] April 16, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts" Director Scott Hicks
Director Scott Hicks' documentary "Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts" traces an eventful year in contemporary composer Philip Glass's life as he stages the opera "Waiting for the Barbarians," writes his eighth symphony, scores several films, travels the world and maintains a family with his fourth wife, Holly. Given unprecedented access to Glass' working process, family life, spiritual teachers and long time collaborators, Hicks gives us a unique glimpse behind the curtain into the life of a surprising and complex man. Koch Lorber Films opens the film Friday, April 18 at New York's IFC Center with subsequent release dates to be announced. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] April 15, 2008iW NEWS | HBO Doc Films Announces Summer Slate
Beginning June 9, 2008 and running through August 25, 2008, HBO Documentary Films will air a new film every Monday night at 9:00pm (ET/PT). The slate was announced Tuesday, and includes Marina Zenovich's "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" on June 9th; Greg Whiteley's "Resolved" on June 16th; Jezza Neumann's "China's Stolen Children" on July 14th; Edet Belzberg's "The Recruiter" on July 28th; Ivan O'Mahoney and Laura Winter's "Baghdad High" on August 4th; Paul Taylor's "We Are Together" on August 11th; and Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' "The Black List, Vol. 1" on August 25th. For full programming, check out HBO's website. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ]  DISPATCH FROM TEL AVIV | Doc Aviv's 10th Anniversary Presents a Strong Israeli Scene
The appearance of Shimon Peres on stage for the opening night of Doc Aviv's 10th anniversary was an early indicator that the Israeli documentary scene deserves attention. The 84-year-old former Prime Minister, who now serves in the more ceremonial role of President, addressed the packed house at Tel Aviv's Performing Arts Center. Often such an occasion is susceptible to formulaic remarks. Think of the political welcome letters that preface most festival catalogues. But Peres surprised this jaded festival goer with his eloquent perspective on the role of documentary film. Speaking in Hebrew (translated on headsets for international guests), he observed that memory has a tendency to focus on the best of times, whereas the documentary camera can keep a more accurate record of the things we might prefer to forget. He wryly noted that Israel supplies so much drama that it's an ideal home for documentary makers. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story ] April 11, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Body of War" Co-Director Ellen Spiro
Director Ellen Spiro, whose slew of documentaries have played in film festivals and won awards across the world, most recently teamed up with ex-talk show host Phil Donahue for "Body of War." "War" chronicles the story of Tomas Young, a young U.S. soldier who returns from Iraq paralyzed from a bullet in his spine. After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, the film won the National Board of Review's best documentary award and the audience award at the Hamptons International Film Festival, and begins a limited release in New York this weekend. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] April 8, 2008  Errol and Barker
At MoMA on Monday night for the premiere of his new film "Standard Operating Procedure," filmmaker Errol Morris poses alongside Sony Pictures Classics co-president Michael Barker. A few days ago, on his New York Times blog, Morris offered a lengthy look at the use of re-enactments in his own work, noting, "My re-enactments focus our attention on some specific detail or object that helps us look beyond the surface of images to something hidden, something deeper -- something that better captures what really happened...Some re-enactments serve the truth, others subvert it." indieWIRE will soon host Errol Morris for three conversations about his work at Apple Stores in Santa Monica (April 11), New York City (April 23) and San Francisco (April 30). [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, NYC Parties & Events 2008 ] April 7, 2008 DISPATCH FROM NORTH CAROLINA | Full Frame Forges Ahead Without Its Charismatic Founder at the Helm
When the 11th edition of the Full Frame Film Festival unspooled in Durham, North Carolina last Thursday, many were watching to see if the festival would be fundamentally changed by the departure of founder and artistic director Nancy Buirski, long the festival's heart and soul. Buirski, who stayed on as advisor and sidebar curator after a leadership swtich, was still a looming and smiling presence in Durham this year, but the venerable nonfiction film event that she began carried on without her leadership, much the same as it had in previous years. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Wrap Ups ] NYT | A Comprehensive PBS Documentary on the Iraq War Becomes a Big Hit Online
The New York Times reports "more than 1.5 million views of all or part of" the recent Frontline documentary, "Bush's War, streamed for free in 26 parts on the PBS website. [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, New Media & Technology ] April 6, 2008iW NEWS | "Trouble the Water" and "Man on Wire" Win Big at Full Frame Doc Fest
At the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival this weekend, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's "Trouble the Water" won the Anne Dellinger Grand Jury Award, the top prize at the annual Durham, N.C. event, with a special jury prize going to James Marsh's "Man on Wire," which also won the event's audience award. "Trouble the Water" also won the Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights and shared the Full Frame/Working Films Award with Weijun Chen's "Please Vote for Me." Jeremiah Zagar's "In a Dream" won the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award, Steve James and Peter Gilbert's "At the Death House Door" won the Full Frame Inspiration Award and Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath's "The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)" won the Full Frame Spectrum Award. Other winners included Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers' "Lioness" (Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award), Iris Olsson's "Summerchild" (Full Frame President’s Award), Lisa Merton and Alan Dater's "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai" (Full Frame Women In Leadership Award), and Eva Weber's "City of Cranes" (Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ]  REVIEW | Old Joy: Stephen Walker's "Young @ Heart"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] Can rock music and colostomy bags mix? (Insert your own hilarious "Shine a Light" joke here.) The subject of Stephen Walker's new documentary is Farmingham, Massachusetts' "Young @ Heart" chorus, a 24-member group with several international tours under its belt. The singers' median age, we're informed, is 80. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Reviews ] March 31, 2008iW NEWS | Red Envelope's Che Doc at Fortissimo
Fortissomo Films has announced a deal for all rights outside of North America for Trisha Ziff and Luis Lopez's "Chevolution," which will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. The new documentary was financed by Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment and in the words of an announcement, was described as examining, "how the famous photo of revolutionary Ernest "Che" Guevara, captured in an instant by renowned photographer Alberto Korda, became an iconic image known throughout the world, revered by revolutionaries for 50 years, and plastered on everything from bikinis to beer bottles." Subjects included in the film include Gael Garcia Bernal, Antonio Banderas, Tom Morello, Gerry Adams. The film will also screen in the Marche du Film, alongside the upcoming Festival de Cannes. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] March 30, 2008 Pondering Polanski in New Doc (Not Coming to a Theater Near You)
Reportedly set for an HBO cable TV premiere in June, Marina Zenovich's "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" quietly opened in two movie theaters over the weekend. To qualify for Oscar consideration -- as originally reported by Defamer.com -- the documentary is currently on screen for afternoon showings at theaters in Pasadena, CA and in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood. indieWIRE first covered the film shortly after its Sundance Film Festival debut. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Profiles ] March 27, 2008iW NEWS | Arts Alliance Gets "Chops"
Arts Alliance America has announced a deal for North American rights to Bruce Broder's "Chops," a documentary about high school jazz students vying in a national competition. The company is planning a theatrical release followed by a DVD debut later this year. "'Chops' fits into that category of film that gets me excited," said Arts Alliance America president Joe Amodei, "When you can release product that entertains and inspires at the same time, then we have reached our goal. This film achieves both in a very big way." Submarine's Josh Braun and CAA brokered the deal with Arts Alliance America. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] March 26, 2008 DOC COLUMN | Music Documentaries Take Center Stage
When the movie started to roll, the image was only a quarter the size of the screen. I'm wondering if I'm in the right place -- the IMAX Theater at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin -- just as black and white images of Martin Scorsese begin to flash across the screen. He directed the movie I'm about to watch so I'm convinced I'm in the right spot, but won't it cover whole screen? Why show it at IMAX? I'm not sure of the exact moment, but suddenly the movie is filling the screen and like a roller coaster ride, we are at the top just waiting for the big drop that is The Rolling Stones as they take the stage of the Beacon Theater in New York City for a legendary performance. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Monthly Doc Column ] March 24, 2008iW NEWS | "Haditha," "Heaven," "Encounters," "Full Battle," "Berlin" On Film Forum Spring/Summer Slate
New York's Film Forum, a key launching pad for the limited release theatrical runs of independent films and documentaries, has announced its slate of premieres for Spring and Summer 2007. Nick Broomfield's "Battle For Haditha" will open at the theater on May 7th, while Fatih Akin's "The Edge of Heaven" (from Strand Releasing) will debut on May 21st. Set for June are Erik Nelson's "Dreams With Sharp Teeth" (June 4th), Werner Herzog's "Encounters at the End of the World" (June 11th) from ThinkFilm, and Marion Cajori and Amei Wallach's "Louise Bourgeois" (June 25th), while set for July are Tony Gerber & Jesse Moss's "Full Battle Rattle" (July 9th), Julian Schnabel's "Lou Reed's Berlin" from The Weinstein Company (July 18th) and TWC's "Boy A" by John Crowley (July 23rd). Rounding out the Summer roster are Steven Sebring's "Patti Smith: Dream of Life" (August 6th) from Palm Pictures, and Maria Anna Tappeiner's "Richard Serra: Thinking On Your Feet" (August 20th). [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ] March 20, 2008VAR | Cutler Eyeing Comic Doc
Accomplished doc-maker RJ Cutler and TV producer Sarah Timberman are pursuing a new doc based on Richard Zoglin's "Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-Up in the 1970s Changed America," a new book they've optioned (according to Variety). [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Movies ] March 19, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Planet B-Boy" Director Benson Lee
Director Benson Lee's doc "Planet B-Boy" is set in the international world of B-boying, the urban dance known as "breakdancing." With backdrops in Osaka, Japan, Paris, France, Seoul, Korea and Las Vegas, NV, the film follows the stories of dancers who stlarger society and even their own families. An American dancer in Vegas looks for his big break; a Korean son seeks his father's approval; a twelve-year-old boy in France confronts his family's racism and all the b-boys' lives collide in Germany where their skills are put to the ultimate test: the "Battle of the Year" finals, with crews from 18 nations vying for the title of World Champion. Lee directed "Miss Monday," which won the emerging filmmaker award at the St. Louis International Film Festival as well as an special mention for acting at the Sundance Film Festival. Elephant Eye opens the film at the Landmark Sunshine in New York and the Nuart in L.A. Friday, March 21 followed by other cities. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews ] iW NEWS | Yauch's Oscilloscope Sets "Gunnin'" For June
Adam Yauch's new Oscilloscope Pictures has set the release date for its first film, Yauch's "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot." The doc, set to debut next month at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, is the story of eight high school basketball players vying for fame at a Harlem invitational. The film will debut in the Top 10 markets and have a national roll-out through July. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Movies ] March 18, 2008 "Manda Bala" Wins Big at First Cinema Eye Awards
Born out of anger, to use the words of filmmaker Jason Kohn, the inaugural Cinema Eye Honors for documentary films awarded three prizes to "Manda Bala (Send A Bullet)" on Tuesday night in New York City. Kohn's doc, nominated in six of the nine Cinema Eye categories, was honored as best picture and also received awards for cinematography and editing. [ read more in Biz ] [ 7 comments ] [ filed under Awards Season, Awards Watch, Documentary, Lead Story ] March 12, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Wetlands Preserved" Director Dean Budnick
Director Dean Budnick's feature directorial debut, "Wetlands Preserved," is a documentary that details "activist nightclub" The Wetlands Preserve. In 1989, Larry Bloch and his collective opened a nightclub just south of the Holland Tunnel in the then-underdeveloped Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan. The club had been the first venue for New York performances of bands like Pearl Jam and Rage Against The Machine, and fused music with environmental activism in an entirely unique manner. Budnick's doc portrays a critical moment in recent music history, and is a tribute to a club that closed prematurely on September 10, 2001. Budnick, who is also the senior editor of Relix Magazine, talked to indieWIRE about the film. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] March 10, 2008 SXSW '08 INTERVIEW | "We Are Wizards" Director Josh Koury
EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors who have films screening at the 2008 South By Southwest Film Festival. Screening in the Documentary Feature Competition, Josh Koury's "We Are Wizards" is having its world premiere at the South By Southwest Film Festival. The doc is a portrait of the unusual and passionate culture of Harry Potter fans. As the SXSW catalog describes the film, "The 'Harry Potter' mythos allows the nerdy, the average, the young, the downtrodden, and the bored a chance to borrow a little inspiration and step out of their respective worlds to be a part of something 'big.'" [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story, SXSW ] March 9, 2008 REVIEW | A Winning Argument: Loretta Alper and Jeremy Earp's "War Made Easy"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] Though the early to mid-aughts documentary boom has recently died down, it's still difficult to believe there hasn't been a serious nonfiction indictment of the collusion between the government and the media in selling the invasion of Iraq to the American public. This accounts for a somewhat shameful omission in the ever-growing Iraq War doc catalogue--the sheer amount of lies, distortions, and fear-mongering titillations on display in a typical CNN or Fox News broadcast circa 2002 (and today) would offer enough evidence on the sorry state of our national media for a book-length study, let alone a feature film. Columnist, critic, and antiwar notable Norman Solomon has now, remarkably, provided both: his 2005 volume "War Made Easy: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death" has been adapted into an explosive, compact 73-minute documentary by filmmakers Loretta Alper and Jeremy Earp. If a few years ago Solomon was a lonely voice in the wilderness, with this film he has a major stage from which to educate a potentially greater audience. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] March 7, 2008 SXSW '08 INTERVIEW | "Full Battle Rattle" Directors Jesse Moss & Tony Gerber
EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors who have films screening at the 2008 South By Southwest Film Festival. Screening in the Feature Documentary Competition, Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber's "Full Battle Rattle" will be having its North American premiere at the South By Southwest Film Festival after premiering in Berlin last month. The follows lives inside the US Army's Iraq Simulation in California's Mojave Desert. The film takes on one Army Battalion's efforts to pacify the town of Medina Wasl, one of thirteen villages in the simulation, as it lies on the brink of civil war. indieWIRE talked to Moss and Gerber about the film and their goals for SXSW. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, SXSW ] March 6, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Fighting for Life" Director Terry Sanders
Two-time Academy Award winning director-writer-producer Terry Sanders has accumulated a long and eclectic resume in his six decades in the film industry. From directing 1966's "The Legend of Marilyn Monroe" to producing 1994's "Maya Lin: A Clear Strong Vision," Sanders has brought much to the history of American documentary filmmaking. His latest film, which he co-wrote, directed and produced, is "Fighting For Life," which follows American military doctors, nurses and medics on the front lines of the Iraq War. Sanders talked to indieWIRE about the film, which is opening in New York this Friday, March 7, before expanding across the United States throughout the rest of the month. [ read more in People ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews, Lead Story ] March 4, 2008 DISPATCH FROM MISSOURI | Snapshots From the 5th True/False Film Festival
Just days before the opening night of the fifth annual True/False Film Festival in Columbia, MO, fest organizers made good on a plan to launch a new permanent home for their event. The annual festival, described by many fans as a sort of Telluride for documentaries, was born at the eight year-old storefront Ragtag Cinema in downtown Columbia. This year the event moved into the brand new Ragtag, housed in a 10,000 square foot former soda bottling facility that now contains two movie theaters, a bar, bakery, offices, soon a video store. The site was an immediate hub of activity for the increasingly popular festival and sent a signal that the fest is settling in for the long haul. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatches, Lead Story ] March 3, 2008 Docs Across America: Can Michael Moore Save the Theatrical Nonfiction Market?
After a dismal year for the theatrical nonfiction business, when aside from Michael Moore's "Sicko," only two documentaries - "No End in Sight" and "In the Shadow of the Moon" - made just over a million dollars, the iconoclastic documentary filmmaker wants to change all that. Last month, at the International Documentary Association's annual Oscar documentary celebration, Moore called for "Doc Night in America" (see related indieWIRE article), a plan which would see major theater chains dedicating one screen, one night a week, to non fiction film. While the proposal remains in its nascent stages, it has already spurred talk, both positive and negative, within the documentary community and the industry, at large. Will Moore's plan take off? And if it does, is it a good or bad thing for documentary releasing? [ read more in Biz ] [ 3 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Trends ] March 1, 2008 indieWIRE INTERVIEW | "Chicago 10" Director Brett Morgen
Brett Morgen's "Chicago 10" revisits the tragic events outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention, when Yippie protestors were brutally beaten by police officers during a protest riot. Morgen, who co-directed "The Kid Stays in the Picture," takes an unconventional route in re-counting this tragic piece of American history in the '60s, telling the story of the subsequent trial as a cartoon (with voiceover work by Hank Azaria, Nick Nolte, Mark Ruffalo and others), and blending it with footage of the riots. In the interview, Morgen shares his experince with showing the film to both the young and mature alike, and why he' sick of why people ask him about Chicago 10 vs. 7. The movie opened the Sundance Film Festival in 2007 and hits theaters this weekend via Roadside Attractions. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Interviews ] February 27, 2008 DOC COLUMN | Documentary Shorts Are Seeing New Opportunities For Life
Tim Sternberg's wife was working in India and while visiting, he stumbled onto a story--an aging father and his son who project old films into a darkened box for poor kids to watch--that he wanted to film. As is often the case with creative folks, he bounced ideas off of friend Francisco Bello who was also captivated and traveled to India to help Tim capture the story. "It was a classic 'go for it' moment," said Sternberg. "We connected to the subject matter but we made it quickly and somewhat by the seat of our pants." [ read more in Biz ] [ 2 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Lead Story, Trends ] iW NEWS | Magnolia Gets "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*"
Magnolia Pictures has announced a deal for worldwide rights to Christopher Bell's timely steroids doc, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster," which debuted last month at the Sundance Film Festival. Magnolia will release the film in theaters later this year, followed by an HDNET broadcast. "I love this movie!" said Mark Cuban, owner of Magnolia, Landmark Theaters, HDNET, and the Dallas Mavericks, "It's informative, fascinating and hysterical - all the things a movie about steroids should be. You can't miss this one if you are a sports fan." Cinetic Media brokered the deal with Tom Quinn, Dori Begley and Jason Janego from Magnolia. In a recent interview with indieWIRE, filmmaker Bell -- whose own brothers use steriods -- wondered, Is it really un-American to use steroids? Or is there nothing more American than doing whatever it takes to be number one? We are, after all, a country that defines itself in the superlative: we are the biggest, strongest, fastest nation in the world -- the last super power." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ]  REVIEW | Malignant Growth: Laura Dunn's "The Unforeseen"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] Due to the onslaught of environmental documentaries that prioritize urgency over intelligence, Laura Dunn's "The Unforeseen," an inquisitive, elegant rendering of the battle between land development and dwindling natural resources in Austin, might get lost in the shuffle. And what a shame that would be, for Dunn's refreshingly thorough look at the encroachment of capital on untouched land is smart enough not to treat its subject as a horror show. The film is more sobered than alarming, yet it's hardly defeatist. An impressionist's portrait of contemporary American economic life, "The Unforeseen" is for nature both a paean and an elegy, and for contemporary American nonfiction a challenge, in both scope and aesthetic. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] February 21, 2008 DISPATCH FROM AWARDS SEASON | Docs in the Spotlight: Oscar Nominee Michael Moore Calls for Distribution Reform
Oscar nominee Michael Moore stirred members of the doc community on Wednesday night in Los Angeles, laying out a plan to create a new theatrical distribution outlet for non-fiction film. On stage at the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Moore rallied attendees at the annual International Documentary Association (IDA) celebration for feature and short film doc Oscar nominees. "We have to correct this situation with documentary films," Moore said of the challenges that have recently faced theatrically distributed documentaries. "This cannot go on any longer." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Awards Watch, Documentary, Lead Story, Trends ] February 19, 2008iW NEWS | Magnolia, Discovery Announce "Man On Wire" Pact
Discovery Films and Magnolia Pictures have announced a deal for North American theatrical and DVD distribution of James Marsh's Sundance '07 doc, "Man on Wire." The story of Frenchman Philippe Petit's infamous tightrope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center, the film won both the World Cinema Grand Jury and audience awards at the festival last month. A late-summer theatrical release is in the works. The film is based on Petit's book, To Reach the Clouds and was produced by Wall to Wall, in association with Red Box Films for Discovery Films, the BBC and the UK Film Council. Josh Braun from Submarine brokered the deal with Tom Quinn, Dori Begley and Jason Janego from Magnolia Pictures. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 14, 2008iW NEWS | "Queen Raquela" Wins Top Teddy Prize
Olaf de Fleur's "The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela" won the Teddy Award for best feature film at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival tonight in Germany, with Tanaz Eshagian's doc, "Be Like Others" winning both the jury prize and the Siegessaeule Reader's Choice Award. The prize for best documentary went to David Assmann and Ayat Najafi's "Football Under Cover." "This year's documentaries overwhelmingly won the hearts of the Teddy Jury by approaching challenging and thought-provoking subjects in an accessible and effective manner," said the jury, in a statement, "The most cinematic and gripping of them all subtly and humorously tackles gender-roles in sports in Islamic society." Felipe Sholl's "Ta" won the Teddy for best short film. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Documentary, Honors ] February 11, 2008iW NEWS | Maximum Takes International "Water"
Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury prize-winner "Trouble The Water" has been picked up by Toronto-based Maximum Films International for all rights outside North America. The documentary, directed by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, details the lives of aspiring rap artist Kim and her streetwise husband Scott as they are trapped in New Orleans by floodwaters."Maximum is fortunate to have acquired this award-winning and inspirational film, and to be able to work with such talented filmmakers as Tia Lessin and Carl Deal," said Maximum's Managing Director Charlotte Mickie. "We were incredibly moved by 'Trouble The Water''s inspiring message and the uplifting true story and courage of Kim and Scott Roberts." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 10, 2008iW NEWS | WMI Continues Selling "Young @ Heart"
William Morris Independent is touting its work on agency clients director Stephen Walker and producer Sally George, selling their popular doc, "Young @ Heart." After brokering a North American deal with Fox Searchlight back in June at the Los Angeles Film Festival, WMI broke with its tradition of working with overseas sales agents to sell the film to Jean Labadie's Le Pacte in France, Rialto in Australia/New Zealand, Senator Films in Germany, and Pix/Avex Group in Japan. The film, initially conceived for Channel Four in the UK, was re-tooled for theaters. It showcases an aging chorus of crowd-pleasers who sing The Clash and Coldplay. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 9, 2008iW NEWS | Arthouse Acquires Haring Doc
Arthouse Films announced that it has acquired all North American rights and Worldwide Theatrical and DVD Rights (minus certain territories) for director Christina Clausen's doc, "The Universe of Keith Haring." Maid with the cooperation of the deceased artist's estate, the film explores the background and career of Haring and includes interviews with Yoko Ono, Madonna, Grace Jones, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, among others. "By using audio excerpts of Keith's own voice to narrate the film it was possible for me to bring the viewer in close contact with this extraordinary young man," said Clausen in a statement. "We look forward to working with Arthouse on the release to get it to the widest audience possible." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 7, 2008iW NEWS | Magnet Takes "Cocaine"
Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures has acquired the world distribution rights to rakontur's "Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' With The Godmother." The film is the sequel to Magnolia's 2006 documentary, "Cocaine Cowboys." The sequel follows cocaine dealer Charles Crosby beginning in 1991 on the inner-city streets of Oakland, California. "The first 'Cocaine Cowboys has turned out to be a seminal crime documentary, an iconic title that has developed huge name recognition," said Magnet/Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles in a statement. "We're really excited to be partnering again with the savvy storytellers at rakontur for an equally amazing story." Magnolia Home Entertainment has DVD rights to the film. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] iW NEWS | Doc Filmmakers Join Forces for Cinelan
Morgan Spurlock, Ross Kauffman, Eugene Jarecki, Jessica Yu and Steve James are among the filmmakers on board as advisors and contributors to Cinelan, the new short doc initiative being spearheaded by company CEO David Schrieberg. Based upon the creation of a steady stream of three-minute films, Cinelan will syndicate the docs via online and offline outlets, launching in partnership with Guardian News & Media, Picturehouse Cinemas and the Vizumi Network. Other filmmakers already on board include Marilyn Agrelo, Kiki Allgeier, Joanna Chejade-Bloom, Jeremy Chilnick, Mark Francis, Nick Francis, Grant Gee, Cameron Hickey, Liz Mermin, Lila Morgan, Al Morrow, Max Pugh, Jerry Rothwell, Katy Sevigny, Marc Silver, Floyd Webb and Jeremiah Zagar. Key execs on board for Cinelan, which is backed by Arts Alliance and formally launching at the Berlinale, include COO David Laks, as well Karol Martesko-Fenster, Wai Mun Yoon and filmmaker relations team Kiki Allgeier, Jeremy Boxer and Mark Rabinowitz. The company is currently accepting pitches from professional filmmakers and exploring other potential syndication partners. For more information, visit the Cinelan website. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Trends ] January 31, 2008iW NEWS | Celluloid Dreams Takes International "FLOW"
Celluloid Dreams will represent the director Irena Salina's Sundance '08 entry, "FLOW: For Love of Water" internationally. Filmed in 12 countries, "FLOW" is represented in North America by Josh Braun/Submarine. Additionally, it was announced that the film will be the first theatrical film to collaborate with the global environmental initiative 1% For The Planet for its eventual commercial release. 1% is a growing global movement of 782 companies worldwide who have committed to donate 1% of their profit to a network of more than 1,500 global environmental organizations. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] iW NEWS | "Fighting" Doc To Benefit Woodruff Fund
The American Film Foundation has announced that 10% of each ticket from Terry Sanders' documentary, "Fighting For Life," will go to The Bob Woodruff Family Fund, a charity that assists service members injured while serving the United States Armed Forces. "Fighting" details the experiences of doctors and nurses fighting on the frontlines. The film will open in New York City on March 7th with an expansion to follow. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ]  REVIEW | True Dedication: Ilana Trachtman's "Praying with Lior"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] No film critic would dare print a negative word about a film as well-intentioned as Ilana Trachtman's affable, purposely enriching documentary "Praying with Lior"; the reassuring news is that they'd have no reason to. One may be compelled to note the film's unremarkable visual textures, yet more apropos to mention would be Trachtman's commendably unintrusive style, both in her film's shooting and construction. And certainly such tender subject matter warrants this gingerly approach: an assured, straightforward video portrait of a devout Jewish prepubescent with Down syndrome, the film manages to avoid exploitation of its subject matter at every turn. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] January 30, 2008AFP: Abu Ghraib documentary to premiere at Berlinale
A picture about the prisoner abuse scandal at Iraq's Abu Ghraib jail will become the first documentary ever to enter the competition at the Berlin Film Festival next month, organisers said Tuesday. "Standard Operating Procedure" by Oscar-winning director Errol Morris uses recovered footage, reenactments and the notorious photographs published round the world... AFP reports. [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Documentary, Festivals ] January 29, 2008iW NEWS | First Run/Icarus Takes on "Operation Filmmaker"
"Operation Filmmaker" by Nina Davenport has been picked up by First Run/Icarus Films, the company's president Jonathan Miller announced Tuesday. The film, which will have its theatrical run beginning June 4 at the IFC Center in New York, was negotiated by Miller and Films Transit International's Diana Holtzberg on behalf of Davenport. The film was best doc at the AFI Fest in November as well as a special mention at the 2007 Chicago International Film Festival and the Dutch Film Critics' prize at the 2007 International Film Festival Rotterdam. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] January 26, 2008PARK CITY '08, 3:01 p.m. | "Man on Wire" Stir Audiences, Buyers
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. Doc buzz continues... Buyers were drawn to a Noon time Sundance Film Festival screening of James Marsh's accaimed BBC Storyville/Discovery documentary "Man on Wire" at the Holiday Village theater today. Spotted in the audience were execs from Picturehouse, Warner Independent Pictures, and Sony Pictures Classics. The film, being sold at Sundance by Sumbarine, captures the dramatic tightrop walk of Philippe Petit atop a wire stretched 200 feet between the two World Trade Center towers in 1974. Enthusiastically received at Saturday's screening, Petit smiled and proclaimed to the crowd, "I am an artistic criminal." Insiders are weighing offers on the film, in the wake of recent fest screenings, projecting a deal to close in the coming days. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary, Park City ] iW NEWS | "Kicking It" Links Theatrical, DVD, Streaming, and TV Pacts with Liberation, Netflix/Red Envelope and ESPN
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. Jay Boberg's Liberation Entertainment has acquired North American theatrical rights to Susan Koch's doc, "Kicking It" at the Sundance Film Festival, joining forces with Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment and ESPN for the film's release. In a unique deal brokered by CAA and Submarine, immediately following the theatrical release Netflix will distribute the film to its subscribers on DVD and via online streaming simultaneous with the ESPN broadcast. The sports network, which announced its acquisition of worldwide broadcast rights at the start of this year's Sundance festival, will work closely with Netflix to cross promote the day-and-date release of the film. The story of seven players from six countries competing in the 4th Annual Homeless World Cup, the soccer story was produced by Ted Leonsis. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary, Park City ] January 25, 2008 PARK CITY '08 NOTEBOOK | Under Construction: The Nonfiction New Wave Takes Root at Sundance
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. [ read more in Movies ] [ 2 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatch, Lead Story, Park City ] January 23, 2008iW NEWS | Palm Gets "We Are Together"
Palm Pictures has announced its acquisition of North American rights to Paul Taylor's "We Are Together," the acclaimed documentary about orphans in Africa striving to overcome hardship and become achieve success as a singing group. A festival favorite, the film was an audience award winner at IDFA, Tribeca, Edinburgh, and other festivals. It is set for a May 2008 theatrical release. Produced by Taylor and Teddy Leifer, the film is a RISE films production in association with HBO Documentary Films and The Channel 4 British Documentary Film Foundation. It is receiving support from Alicia Keys and her Keep A Child Alive Foundation, as well as promotion fromthe ONE campaign, created by Bono. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] January 22, 2008 PARK CITY '08 NOTEBOOK | Docs Shine at Sundance; "Teen," "Polanski," and "Myths" Among Hyped Titles
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Festival Dispatch, Park City ] January 20, 2008iW NEWS | Cinema Eye Honors Announces Inaugural Nominees
Nominations for the inaugural Cinema Eye Honors For NonFiction Filmmaking were announced today by 2008 Award Co-Chairs Thom Powers, Documentary Programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival, and filmmaker AJ Schnack, director of "Kurt Cobain About A Son." Films nominated for best picture include: Philip Groenin's "Into Great Silence," Tony Kaye's "Lake of Fire," Jason Kohn's "Manda Bala (Send A Bullet)", Pernille Rose Gronkjaer's "The Monastery - Mr. Vig and the Nun," and Charles Ferguson's "No End In Sight." "Into Great Silence" and "Manda Bala" lead with six nominations each, while "Lake of Fire" has five. The full nomination list is available on the indieWIRE Insider blog. The Cinema Eye Honors, named for the revolutionary group of young filmmakers led by pioneering documentarian Dziga Vertov, will be awarded on March 18, 2008 at a ceremony at the IFC Center in New York City. The event will be presented by IndiePix [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Documentary, Honors ] iW NEWS | HBO Confirms "Polanski" Deal; Plans Oscar Qualifying Run
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. HBO Documentary Films confirmed it has picked up all U.S. rights to writer/director/producer Marina Zenovich's Sundance Film Festival doc competition film "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" and the company confirmed that plans to will give it an Oscar qualifying this year. The film, which had its world premiere Friday in Park City, UT, focuses on the legendary director whose reputation became forever tarnished after his public conviction of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Cinetic Media and Submarine Entertainment represented the filmmakers in their negotiations with HBO. indieWIRE reported on the film yesterday. [Brian Brooks][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary, Park City ] PARK CITY '08 10:51 a.m. | "Polanski" & HBO?; Buzz Docs: "Teen," "Secrecy," "Recruit" Closing In
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. Docs remain the hot on day four of Sundance... Marina Zenovich's "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" seems likely to land at HBO, according to insiders, but contacted this morning HBO said that nothing is confirmed yet. Following an international deal with The Weinstein Company, HBO's high six-figure offer tops a combined ThinkFilm/History Channel/Netflix proposed pact, in a deal being brokered by Submarine and Cinetic. A theatrical run for the film is being considered but indieWIRE is awaiting more details from any official annoncement. Warner Independent Pictures and Roadside Attractions were also apparently in the running for the Polanski film. Meanwhile, buyers have been buzzing about "American Teen" since last night, but the film remains on the market as of this morning, according to an insider. Rumors last night had Fox Searchlght initially whisking away the "Teen" team after the screening, but at the film's Main St. party later, Sony Pictures Classics made a pitch and Paramount Vantage also paid respects. CAA and Cinetic are working the film. Among other doc action on the first weekend of the Sundance Film Festival, a source said that Peter Galison and Robb Moss' "Secrecy" could close a deal soon (Submarine is repping), while Edet Belzberg's "The Recruit" (formerly known as "An American Soldier") is stirring offers with insiders piecing together a deal, according to another source (Andrew Herwitz is selling the doc). indieWIRE reported on many of these film in a recent festival dispatch. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary, Park City ] January 19, 2008iW NEWS | ESPN Is "Kicking It"
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. ESPN announced that it has acquired Sundance soccer documentary "Kicking It." Produced by Ted Leonsis (who executive produced last year's "Nanking") and directed by Susan Koch, "Kicking It" details the lives of seven soccer players from six countries as they participate in the 4th annual Homeless World Cup. ESPN will retain exclusive television rights worldwide, and execute the film's digital distribution while working with the filmmakers to secure theatrical, DVD and other distribution. "'Kicking It" speaks to the perseverance of the human spirit and the global impact of sport," said Keith Clinkscales, ESPN senior vice president of content development and enterprises in a statement. "As our company continues to expand its global reach on the belief that sport transcends different languages and ways of life to bring people together, a film like 'Kicking It' is an inspirational guide and a fitting choice for ESPN." [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary, Park City ] January 17, 2008 REVIEW | House of Pain: Alex Gibney's "Taxi to the Dark Side"
[An indieWIRE review from Reverse Shot.] Presidential hopeful and all-around sleaze bucket Mitt Romney's desperate equivocating over the use of waterboarding during this season's Republican YouTube debate nearly left the man a frothing mess. That's because there really isn't any room for equivocation: torture is torture, no matter how much the administration and other assorted "defenders of freedom" try to make excuses or strict, revisionist definitions. In his simultaneously harrowing and soberly parsed new documentary, Alex Gibney ("Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room") trots out endless footage of disgraced Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld smugly invalidating queries into American torture of Muslims at Guantanamo Bay and George Bush musing into what really constitutes torture, after all. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Documentary, Reviews ] iW NEWS | HBO Announces "Black List" Acquisition
Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND. In the third documentary deal timed to the opening day of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, HBO Documentary Films has announced its acquisition of domestic TV rights to Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and Elvis Mitchell's "The Black List: Volume One," which is having its world premiere in the Spectrum section on Tuesday at Sundance. The film is described as being "composed of dramatic portraits of some of today's most fascinating and influential African-American icons," including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sean Combs, Mahlon Duckett, Thelma Golden, Lou Gossett, Jr., Bill T. Jones, Vernon Jordan, Marc Morial, Toni Morrison, Suzanne-Lori Parks, Richard Parsons, Colin Powell, Susan Rice, Chris Rock, Al Sharpton, Lorna Simpson, Slash, Dawn Staley, Faye Wattleton, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Zane. The documentary will be part of what is described as a "multifaceted project that includes a traveling exhibit, portrait book and a user-generated campaign designed for multiple platforms." Produced by Mitchell, Greenfield-Sanders and Michael Slap Sloane, the deal was brokered by Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment and David Koh of Arthouse Films. The TV deal reunites the project with HBO, which supported its development. A source close to the film told indieWIRE today that HBO is planning a limited Oscar qualifying theatrical release and that a separate DVD deal is currently in the works. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary, Park City ] |