Exclusive: Bavc Media has named the latest group of nonfiction filmmakers to take part in its prestigious documentary film fellowship program. The octet announced today will receive $10,000 each in “unrestricted funding, mentorship, industry access, feedback sessions, and workshops during an immersive 9-month experience.”
The Bavc MediaMaker Fellowship was established in 1991 to support emerging filmmakers and diverse projects. This year’s cohort includes Ademola (Ellas Vinieron de Las Nubes / They Came From the Clouds); Chelsi Bullard (Unfiltered); Caron Creighton (Wood Street); Julia Hunter (This is Me Loving You); Patrick G. Lee (Untitled Kqt Project); Ivan MacDonald (When They Were Here); Khai Thu Nguyen (The Full Thao), and Pallavi Somusetty (Coach Emily). [Scroll for more about the filmmakers and their projects].
The fellowship provides “two intensive convenings in San Francisco, a slate of virtual workshops throughout the year, and all-access travel to the International Documentary Association’s biennial Getting Real conference in Los Angeles and the Camden International Film Festival in midcoast Maine.
The Bavc MediaMaker Fellowship was established in 1991 to support emerging filmmakers and diverse projects. This year’s cohort includes Ademola (Ellas Vinieron de Las Nubes / They Came From the Clouds); Chelsi Bullard (Unfiltered); Caron Creighton (Wood Street); Julia Hunter (This is Me Loving You); Patrick G. Lee (Untitled Kqt Project); Ivan MacDonald (When They Were Here); Khai Thu Nguyen (The Full Thao), and Pallavi Somusetty (Coach Emily). [Scroll for more about the filmmakers and their projects].
The fellowship provides “two intensive convenings in San Francisco, a slate of virtual workshops throughout the year, and all-access travel to the International Documentary Association’s biennial Getting Real conference in Los Angeles and the Camden International Film Festival in midcoast Maine.
- 4/2/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: PBS’s Independent Lens strand has acquired feature doc One with the Whale, spotlighting a Siberian Yupik community facing up to climate change and animal rights activists.
Co-directed by Pete Chelkowski and environmental journalist Jim Wickens (Ecostorm), the doc was filmed over two years on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, and explores the traditions and customs, values and lifestyles of a tight-knit Yupik village known as Gambell.
Being based on a small ice-covered island near the Bering Sea, the Yupiks have witnessed the increasingly damaging impact of climate change on their environment and way of life, while their centuries-old practices as traditional hunter gatherers have been attacked by online animal rights activists. The doc will follow the story of Chris Apassingok, a teenager and local hero who harpooned a 50-foot whale that fed the village for months. After his story emerged, he was...
Co-directed by Pete Chelkowski and environmental journalist Jim Wickens (Ecostorm), the doc was filmed over two years on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, and explores the traditions and customs, values and lifestyles of a tight-knit Yupik village known as Gambell.
Being based on a small ice-covered island near the Bering Sea, the Yupiks have witnessed the increasingly damaging impact of climate change on their environment and way of life, while their centuries-old practices as traditional hunter gatherers have been attacked by online animal rights activists. The doc will follow the story of Chris Apassingok, a teenager and local hero who harpooned a 50-foot whale that fed the village for months. After his story emerged, he was...
- 6/5/2023
- by Jesse Whittock and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Jessica Q. Chen, Jeremiah M. Bogert Jr. co-directed completed film.
Los Angeles-based finance, production and sales company Est Studios has added the documentary Surf Nation about aspiring Chinese surfers to its Cannes sales slate.
The feature follows two promising young surfers over two years as they leave their families to join hundreds of other athletes from the southern province of Hainan and get paid to become Olympic hopefuls.
Jessica Q. Chen (Women Of Apollo), an Emmy-winning Chinese American filmmaker and video producer at the Los Angeles Times, and Jeremiah M. Bogert Jr. (Chasing The Swell) co-directed Surf Nation and Oscar-nominated...
Los Angeles-based finance, production and sales company Est Studios has added the documentary Surf Nation about aspiring Chinese surfers to its Cannes sales slate.
The feature follows two promising young surfers over two years as they leave their families to join hundreds of other athletes from the southern province of Hainan and get paid to become Olympic hopefuls.
Jessica Q. Chen (Women Of Apollo), an Emmy-winning Chinese American filmmaker and video producer at the Los Angeles Times, and Jeremiah M. Bogert Jr. (Chasing The Swell) co-directed Surf Nation and Oscar-nominated...
- 5/17/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The Neutral Ground co-screenwriter James Hamilton with Anne-Katrin Titze: “The director, Cj Hunt, is my longtime best friend. Our comedy brain had to be working and our storytelling brain had to be working." Photo: Ed Bahlman
Cj Hunt’s The Neutral Ground, co-written with James Hamilton (comedian and journalist) and Jane Geisler (who is also the editor), shot by Paavo Hanninen, executive produced by Roy Wood Jr. and Sally Jo Fifer, produced by Darcy McKinnon with co-producer Jeremy Blum, was a highlight of the 20th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary is also a co-production of the PBS program Pov (season 34), executive produced by Erika Dilday, Justine Nagan, and Chris White, and Itvs, in association with the Center for Asian American Media.
Cj Hunt in front of the Robert E Lee statue in Richmond, Virginia
In addition, at Tribeca, Cj Hunt received an Albert Maysles Award Special Jury...
Cj Hunt’s The Neutral Ground, co-written with James Hamilton (comedian and journalist) and Jane Geisler (who is also the editor), shot by Paavo Hanninen, executive produced by Roy Wood Jr. and Sally Jo Fifer, produced by Darcy McKinnon with co-producer Jeremy Blum, was a highlight of the 20th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary is also a co-production of the PBS program Pov (season 34), executive produced by Erika Dilday, Justine Nagan, and Chris White, and Itvs, in association with the Center for Asian American Media.
Cj Hunt in front of the Robert E Lee statue in Richmond, Virginia
In addition, at Tribeca, Cj Hunt received an Albert Maysles Award Special Jury...
- 4/9/2023
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Cph:forum, the financing and co-production event held during Cph:dox documentary film festival in Copenhagen, will introduce new projects by filmmakers such as Ljubomir Stefanov (“Honeyland”), Jessica Kingdon (“Ascension”), Finlay Pretsell (“Time Trial”), Ousmane Samassekou (“The Last Shelter”), Mila Turajlić (“The Other Side of Everything”), Tonislav Hristov (“The Good Postman”), Iryna Tsilyk (“The Earth Is Blue as an Orange”) and Brett Story (“The Hottest August”), among others.
Stefanov, who was nominated for an Oscar for “Honeyland,” will be pitching “House of Earth.” He teams with producer Maya E. Rudolph, who produced Emmy-nominated “The Andy Warhol Diaries,” and Sarah D’hanens. The film centers on transgender sex worker Pinky, who returns to her Roma community after 30 years, and finds two families in need of a matriarch. Torn between her biological kin and chosen queer family, Pinky attempts to build a future that feels like home.
Kingdon, who was Oscar nominated for “Ascension,” arrives with “Untitled Animal Project,...
Stefanov, who was nominated for an Oscar for “Honeyland,” will be pitching “House of Earth.” He teams with producer Maya E. Rudolph, who produced Emmy-nominated “The Andy Warhol Diaries,” and Sarah D’hanens. The film centers on transgender sex worker Pinky, who returns to her Roma community after 30 years, and finds two families in need of a matriarch. Torn between her biological kin and chosen queer family, Pinky attempts to build a future that feels like home.
Kingdon, who was Oscar nominated for “Ascension,” arrives with “Untitled Animal Project,...
- 2/10/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Cph:dox also sets work-in-progress, Change co-production selections.
New feature documentaries from Honeyland director Ljubomir Stefanov and Ascension filmmaker Jessica Kingdon are among the 33 projects selected for Cph:Forum, the financing and co-production market of Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival.
Macedonian filmmaker Stefanov is presenting House of Earth, about a transgender sex worker who returns to her Roma community after 30 years on the run, only to be torn between her biological kin and her chosen queer family. The Macedonian-us co-production is produced by Maya E. Rudolph and Sarah D’hanens, and is looking for €405,000 funding to supplement its €45,000 in place from Louverture Films and private equity.
New feature documentaries from Honeyland director Ljubomir Stefanov and Ascension filmmaker Jessica Kingdon are among the 33 projects selected for Cph:Forum, the financing and co-production market of Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival.
Macedonian filmmaker Stefanov is presenting House of Earth, about a transgender sex worker who returns to her Roma community after 30 years on the run, only to be torn between her biological kin and her chosen queer family. The Macedonian-us co-production is produced by Maya E. Rudolph and Sarah D’hanens, and is looking for €405,000 funding to supplement its €45,000 in place from Louverture Films and private equity.
- 2/10/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen are directing.
Participant and Actual Films in association with Chicago Media Project are producing a documentary on the use of experimental psychedelics in the treatment of Ptsd and traumatic brain injuries in Navy Seal veterans.
Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen are directing the feature, which follows a group of former SEALs battling with trauma, physical pain and suicidal thoughts who undertake a cutting-edge psychedelic treatment.
Jessica Anthony produces and executive producers are Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann, Actual Films’ Justine Nagan, and Chicago Media Project’s Paula Froehle, Steven Cohen, Shizuka Asakawa and Kent McCleerey.
Participant and Actual Films in association with Chicago Media Project are producing a documentary on the use of experimental psychedelics in the treatment of Ptsd and traumatic brain injuries in Navy Seal veterans.
Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen are directing the feature, which follows a group of former SEALs battling with trauma, physical pain and suicidal thoughts who undertake a cutting-edge psychedelic treatment.
Jessica Anthony produces and executive producers are Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann, Actual Films’ Justine Nagan, and Chicago Media Project’s Paula Froehle, Steven Cohen, Shizuka Asakawa and Kent McCleerey.
- 2/1/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
An untitled documentary about the experimental use of psychedelics to treat former Navy SEALs’ traumatic brain injuries and Ptsd is in the works from Participant.
The project, produced by Participant, Actual Films and Chicago Media Project, will depict U.S. special operation veterans as they seek the controversial, transformative treatment.
Following former Navy SEALs who suffer from anxiety, pain and suicidal thoughts, the documentary finds the veterans at their breaking points, which leads them to the cutting edge of alternative treatments. The documentary uses interviews, archival footage, animation and intimate verité to depict the soldiers’ stories, as well as the groundbreaking research on the ancient natural medicines taking place at the Bay Area-based Brain Stimulation Lab.
The documentary features veteran Marcus Capone, who has struggled to acclimate to civilian life. His wife Amber sent him out of the country to receive a lifesaving psychedelic treatment — which includes ibogaine and 5-MeO-dmt...
The project, produced by Participant, Actual Films and Chicago Media Project, will depict U.S. special operation veterans as they seek the controversial, transformative treatment.
Following former Navy SEALs who suffer from anxiety, pain and suicidal thoughts, the documentary finds the veterans at their breaking points, which leads them to the cutting edge of alternative treatments. The documentary uses interviews, archival footage, animation and intimate verité to depict the soldiers’ stories, as well as the groundbreaking research on the ancient natural medicines taking place at the Bay Area-based Brain Stimulation Lab.
The documentary features veteran Marcus Capone, who has struggled to acclimate to civilian life. His wife Amber sent him out of the country to receive a lifesaving psychedelic treatment — which includes ibogaine and 5-MeO-dmt...
- 2/1/2023
- by Julia MacCary
- Variety Film + TV
The use of experimental psychedelic drugs by former Navy SEALs and other U.S. special operation veterans to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (Ptsd) and traumatic brain injuries will get a spotlight in an untitled documentary in the works from Participant, Actual Films and Chicago Media Project.
The film, directed by Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen, will tackle groundbreaking treatments involving psychedelics amid evidence that the incidence of suicide among former military members who either experienced or witnessed traumatic combat is four times higher than the number of U.S. soldiers killed during active military operations.
The documentary will feature Marcus Capone, a former Navy Seal left with post traumatic symptoms, like depression and rage, after taking part in special operations. He and his wife Amber founded the nonprofit Vets to help U.S. veterans tap psychedelic assisted therapies as a lifeline.
“Over the years, we have been honored to share...
The film, directed by Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen, will tackle groundbreaking treatments involving psychedelics amid evidence that the incidence of suicide among former military members who either experienced or witnessed traumatic combat is four times higher than the number of U.S. soldiers killed during active military operations.
The documentary will feature Marcus Capone, a former Navy Seal left with post traumatic symptoms, like depression and rage, after taking part in special operations. He and his wife Amber founded the nonprofit Vets to help U.S. veterans tap psychedelic assisted therapies as a lifeline.
“Over the years, we have been honored to share...
- 2/1/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PBS’s long-running documentary showcase “Pov” has picked up Sundance documentary contender “Midwives.”
Directed by Snow Hnin El Hlaing and filmed over five years, the film — which premiered on Monday as part of the World Documentary Competition at the virtual Sundance Film Festival — is set in western Myanmar and tells the story of a makeshift medical clinic run by two women, Hla and Nyo Nyo, in a region torn apart by violent ethnic divisions.
Hla, the owner of the clinic, is a Buddhist in the western region of the country, where Muslim minority community the Rohingya are persecuted and denied basic rights. Nyo Nyo is a Muslim and an apprentice ze who acts as an assistant and translator at the clinic. Her family has lived in the area for generations, yet they’re still considered intruders.
Encouraged and challenged by Hla, who risks her own safety daily by helping Muslim patients,...
Directed by Snow Hnin El Hlaing and filmed over five years, the film — which premiered on Monday as part of the World Documentary Competition at the virtual Sundance Film Festival — is set in western Myanmar and tells the story of a makeshift medical clinic run by two women, Hla and Nyo Nyo, in a region torn apart by violent ethnic divisions.
Hla, the owner of the clinic, is a Buddhist in the western region of the country, where Muslim minority community the Rohingya are persecuted and denied basic rights. Nyo Nyo is a Muslim and an apprentice ze who acts as an assistant and translator at the clinic. Her family has lived in the area for generations, yet they’re still considered intruders.
Encouraged and challenged by Hla, who risks her own safety daily by helping Muslim patients,...
- 1/26/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
The International Documentary Association has announced nominations for its 37th annual awards, with “Summer of Soul” picking up four noms and “Not Going Quietly” nabbing three.
Winners will be announced Feb. 5 at the awards ceremony at Paramount Studios.
“Summer of Soul,” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s look at 1969’s Harlem Cultural Festival, picked up nominations for Thompson for director in addition to best feature, best music doc and best editing. “Not Going Quietly,” about healthcare activist Ady Barkan, received noms for Nicholas Bruckman for best director along with best feature and best writing.
IDA members may vote online for the best feature and best short categories starting Dec. 13.
PBS earned 14 nominations, followed by Netflix and Hulu with seven nominations each and HBO with six. This year’s submissions included 314 documentary features, 137 shorts, 172 series, 54 student films, 29 music docs and 41 audio documentaries or podcasts.
Here’s the full list of 2021 nominees:
Best Feature...
Winners will be announced Feb. 5 at the awards ceremony at Paramount Studios.
“Summer of Soul,” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s look at 1969’s Harlem Cultural Festival, picked up nominations for Thompson for director in addition to best feature, best music doc and best editing. “Not Going Quietly,” about healthcare activist Ady Barkan, received noms for Nicholas Bruckman for best director along with best feature and best writing.
IDA members may vote online for the best feature and best short categories starting Dec. 13.
PBS earned 14 nominations, followed by Netflix and Hulu with seven nominations each and HBO with six. This year’s submissions included 314 documentary features, 137 shorts, 172 series, 54 student films, 29 music docs and 41 audio documentaries or podcasts.
Here’s the full list of 2021 nominees:
Best Feature...
- 11/15/2021
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: PBS’ documentary series Pov has acquired U.S. broadcast rights to Pier Kids, Elegance Bratton’s LGBTQ documentary that premiered at Doc NYC and won awards for its director Elegance Bratton at Outfest and the Spirit Awards among its film festival accolades. With the deal, the pic will be part of Pov‘s upcoming season that launches in June.
Pier Kids explores the lives of the Black, homeless queer and trans youth who call the Christopher Street Pier in New York City their home, forging friendships and chosen families. The doc focuses the kids as they navigate their lives, withstanding homophobia and discrimination while working to carve out autonomy and security. It is a subject close to Bratton: he lived in the Christopher Street Pier for a decade after leaving home at age 16.
The film is the first from Bratton and Chester Algernal Gordon’s production company Freedom Principle...
Pier Kids explores the lives of the Black, homeless queer and trans youth who call the Christopher Street Pier in New York City their home, forging friendships and chosen families. The doc focuses the kids as they navigate their lives, withstanding homophobia and discrimination while working to carve out autonomy and security. It is a subject close to Bratton: he lived in the Christopher Street Pier for a decade after leaving home at age 16.
The film is the first from Bratton and Chester Algernal Gordon’s production company Freedom Principle...
- 4/22/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Crip Camp, the Netflix documentary about a unique summer camp for disabled kids and its role propelling the disability rights movement, won Best Feature at the International Documentary Association’s IDA Awards, in something of an upset.
The film directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht (the latter attended the titular camp as a teen) also won the ABC News VideoSource Award, recognizing its skillful use of archival video from the 1970s to 1990s.
“I want to thank everybody at Camp Jened, the staff, the counselors and the campers,” said an emotional LeBrecht as he, Newnham and producer Sara Bolder accepted the award. “My life set a course when I went there and you all are responsible for this–you are so much a part of this award.”
Newnham added, “The hippie teens and counselors of Camp Jened could never have imagined the wide-reaching impact that their brief utopian community...
The film directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht (the latter attended the titular camp as a teen) also won the ABC News VideoSource Award, recognizing its skillful use of archival video from the 1970s to 1990s.
“I want to thank everybody at Camp Jened, the staff, the counselors and the campers,” said an emotional LeBrecht as he, Newnham and producer Sara Bolder accepted the award. “My life set a course when I went there and you all are responsible for this–you are so much a part of this award.”
Newnham added, “The hippie teens and counselors of Camp Jened could never have imagined the wide-reaching impact that their brief utopian community...
- 1/17/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
“Crip Camp” has been named the best documentary of 2020 at the 36th annual IDA Documentary Awards, the International Documentary Association announced on Saturday at a virtual ceremony.
The film, about an upstate New York summer camp for disabled teens that helped launch the disability rights movement, also won the ABC News VideoSource Award for its use of archival footage and finished as runner-up to “My Octopus Teacher” for the Pare Lorentz Award.
“Crip Camp,” a Netflix film that premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, won in a category whose other nominees were “Collective,” “Gunda,” “MLK/FBI,” “The Reason I Jump,” “Reunited,” “Softie,” “Time,” “The Truffle Hunters” and “Welcome to Chechnya.”
Garrett Bradley won the best director award for “Time” and also won the Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award for that film.
In the television categories, awards went to “American Experience” for curated series, “Last Chance U” for episodic series and...
The film, about an upstate New York summer camp for disabled teens that helped launch the disability rights movement, also won the ABC News VideoSource Award for its use of archival footage and finished as runner-up to “My Octopus Teacher” for the Pare Lorentz Award.
“Crip Camp,” a Netflix film that premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, won in a category whose other nominees were “Collective,” “Gunda,” “MLK/FBI,” “The Reason I Jump,” “Reunited,” “Softie,” “Time,” “The Truffle Hunters” and “Welcome to Chechnya.”
Garrett Bradley won the best director award for “Time” and also won the Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award for that film.
In the television categories, awards went to “American Experience” for curated series, “Last Chance U” for episodic series and...
- 1/17/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The International Documentary Association has announced the winners of the 36th annual IDA Documentary Awards, with “Crip Camp” taking home the top prize.
The ceremony was hosted by actor Willie Garson, with musical entertainment from Ruby Ibarra, who performed the theme from “A Thousand Cuts.”
Directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht, “Crip Camp” received the best feature award as well as the ABC News VideoSource award. Garrett Bradley won best director for his film “Time,” while “John Was Trying to Contact Aliens” from Matthew Killip received the best short award. “Dick Johnson Is Dead” took home the awards for best writing and best editing.
Besides “Crip Camp,” the nominees for best feature included “Collective,” “Gunda,” “The Reason I Jump,” “Softie,” “The Truffle Hunters,” “MLK/FBI,” “Reunited,” “Time” and “Welcome to Chechnya.” Nominees for best director besides Bradley included Newnham and LeBrecht for “Crip Camp,” Jerry Rothwell for “The Reason I Jump,...
The ceremony was hosted by actor Willie Garson, with musical entertainment from Ruby Ibarra, who performed the theme from “A Thousand Cuts.”
Directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht, “Crip Camp” received the best feature award as well as the ABC News VideoSource award. Garrett Bradley won best director for his film “Time,” while “John Was Trying to Contact Aliens” from Matthew Killip received the best short award. “Dick Johnson Is Dead” took home the awards for best writing and best editing.
Besides “Crip Camp,” the nominees for best feature included “Collective,” “Gunda,” “The Reason I Jump,” “Softie,” “The Truffle Hunters,” “MLK/FBI,” “Reunited,” “Time” and “Welcome to Chechnya.” Nominees for best director besides Bradley included Newnham and LeBrecht for “Crip Camp,” Jerry Rothwell for “The Reason I Jump,...
- 1/17/2021
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
The International Documentary Association’s annual awards is usually a bustling get-together for the film and television non-fiction community. The 36th iteration was the usual pandemic-era virtual version, sans networking, but with returning host Willie Garson. “This past year has not been normal in any way,” said outgoing IDA executive director Simon Kilmurry. “If 2020/2021 has shown us anything, it’s that even with all the challenges we face and the grief we’ve had, the work of storytellers is essential.”
At the end of the streamlined affair, Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht’s “Crip Camp” (Netflix) took home both the Best Feature Award and ABC News VideoSource Award. “It’s one of the major civil rights stories of American history that had been forgotten,” said Newnham.
LeBrecht thanked Sundance for its support, as well as Camp Jened, he said: “My life set a course when I went there. You are all responsible,...
At the end of the streamlined affair, Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht’s “Crip Camp” (Netflix) took home both the Best Feature Award and ABC News VideoSource Award. “It’s one of the major civil rights stories of American history that had been forgotten,” said Newnham.
LeBrecht thanked Sundance for its support, as well as Camp Jened, he said: “My life set a course when I went there. You are all responsible,...
- 1/17/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The International Documentary Association’s annual awards is usually a bustling get-together for the film and television non-fiction community. The 36th iteration was the usual pandemic-era virtual version, sans networking, but with returning host Willie Garson. “This past year has not been normal in any way,” said outgoing IDA executive director Simon Kilmurry. “If 2020/2021 has shown us anything, it’s that even with all the challenges we face and the grief we’ve had, the work of storytellers is essential.”
At the end of the streamlined affair, Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht’s “Crip Camp” (Netflix) took home both the Best Feature Award and ABC News VideoSource Award. “It’s one of the major civil rights stories of American history that had been forgotten,” said Newnham.
LeBrecht thanked Sundance for its support, as well as Camp Jened, he said: “My life set a course when I went there. You are all responsible,...
At the end of the streamlined affair, Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht’s “Crip Camp” (Netflix) took home both the Best Feature Award and ABC News VideoSource Award. “It’s one of the major civil rights stories of American history that had been forgotten,” said Newnham.
LeBrecht thanked Sundance for its support, as well as Camp Jened, he said: “My life set a course when I went there. You are all responsible,...
- 1/17/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: PBS’ documentary series Pov has acquired U.S. broadcast rights to Landfall, Cecilia Aldorondo’s feature-length film that looks at the rebuilding of Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria through the stories of farmers, fishermen, educators, real estate agents and newcomers.
The doc, which had its premiere at the mostly shuttered Tribeca Film Festival, will now air as part of Pov’s 34th season set to launch on PBS stations in June. Before that, it will screen at Doc NYC which runs November 11-19.
The island and its 3.4 million residents (and U.S. citizens) was ravaged by the September 2017 storm, which shuttered electricity to the entire commonwealth and caused billions in damages, leaving behind a crippled infrastructure and a multibillion-dollar debt. Outside investors descended not as much to bail out communities but to cash in, leaving the next generation of Puerto Ricans finding themselves at an inflection...
The doc, which had its premiere at the mostly shuttered Tribeca Film Festival, will now air as part of Pov’s 34th season set to launch on PBS stations in June. Before that, it will screen at Doc NYC which runs November 11-19.
The island and its 3.4 million residents (and U.S. citizens) was ravaged by the September 2017 storm, which shuttered electricity to the entire commonwealth and caused billions in damages, leaving behind a crippled infrastructure and a multibillion-dollar debt. Outside investors descended not as much to bail out communities but to cash in, leaving the next generation of Puerto Ricans finding themselves at an inflection...
- 11/2/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Justine Nagan is stepping down as the executive director of American Documentary, Inc. She will leave the company in spring 2021. A search is underway for her replacement.
Nagan, an Emmy- and Peabody-winning producer, joined AmDoc as executive director in 2015 and has served as an executive producer for PBS’ Pov, the longest-running independent documentary series on television, and America ReFramed (with World Channel in partnership with Wgbh). She oversaw the premieres of nearly 100 projects including Pov’s first episodic co-production, the docuseries And She Could Be Next, directed by Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia and executive produced by Ava DuVernay; and Minding the Gap, directed by Bing Liu and produced by Diane Quon. Nagan also launched Pov Shorts in 2018, one of the first PBS series dedicated to short-form documentaries.
With Nagan at the helm, AmDoc added to its collection of Peabody Awards; News & Documentary Emmys, including Best Documentary; and Oscar nominations.
Nagan, an Emmy- and Peabody-winning producer, joined AmDoc as executive director in 2015 and has served as an executive producer for PBS’ Pov, the longest-running independent documentary series on television, and America ReFramed (with World Channel in partnership with Wgbh). She oversaw the premieres of nearly 100 projects including Pov’s first episodic co-production, the docuseries And She Could Be Next, directed by Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia and executive produced by Ava DuVernay; and Minding the Gap, directed by Bing Liu and produced by Diane Quon. Nagan also launched Pov Shorts in 2018, one of the first PBS series dedicated to short-form documentaries.
With Nagan at the helm, AmDoc added to its collection of Peabody Awards; News & Documentary Emmys, including Best Documentary; and Oscar nominations.
- 10/8/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
The 1967 Public Broadcasting Act created the Corp. for Public Broadcasting, paving the way for the founding of PBS. Section 396 of the act includes the directive, “It is in the public interest to encourage the development of programming that involves creative risks and that addresses the needs of unserved and underserved audiences.”
Justine Nagan, executive producer of documentary franchise “Pov,” has been thinking about that line quite a bit as PBS celebrates its 50th anniversary.
“We sit directly at that locus,” Nagan says of “Pov.” “That is the role that we provide in the PBS landscape.”
Launched in 1988, “Pov” showcases feature-length films, many of which take on broad social issues by telling the human-level story of an individual. It’s one of the cornerstones of PBS’ documentary efforts. And documentary is as important a piece of PBS’ identity as is children’s programming or costume drama — one that has evolved as...
Justine Nagan, executive producer of documentary franchise “Pov,” has been thinking about that line quite a bit as PBS celebrates its 50th anniversary.
“We sit directly at that locus,” Nagan says of “Pov.” “That is the role that we provide in the PBS landscape.”
Launched in 1988, “Pov” showcases feature-length films, many of which take on broad social issues by telling the human-level story of an individual. It’s one of the cornerstones of PBS’ documentary efforts. And documentary is as important a piece of PBS’ identity as is children’s programming or costume drama — one that has evolved as...
- 7/16/2020
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s TV News Roundup, HBO announced the premiere date for its reboot of “Perry Mason,” and Fox Entertainment announced a weekly talk show to accompany its Animation Domination Sunday block.
Dates
HBO has announced that its upcoming reboot of “Perry Mason” will premiere on June 21 at 9 p.m. The series follows criminal defense lawyer Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys) as he ventures into the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles during the Great Depression. The series is executive produced by Amanda Burrell, Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Ron Fitzgerald, Joe Horacek, Rolin Jones and Timothy Van Patten. Aida Rodgers serves as co-executive producer. HBO released the announcement alongside a new teaser, which can be watched below.
PBS has announced that the two-part docuseries “And She Could Be Next” will premiere on the network and at pov.org in June. The documentary is part of the network’s summer “Trailblazers” initiative,...
Dates
HBO has announced that its upcoming reboot of “Perry Mason” will premiere on June 21 at 9 p.m. The series follows criminal defense lawyer Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys) as he ventures into the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles during the Great Depression. The series is executive produced by Amanda Burrell, Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Ron Fitzgerald, Joe Horacek, Rolin Jones and Timothy Van Patten. Aida Rodgers serves as co-executive producer. HBO released the announcement alongside a new teaser, which can be watched below.
PBS has announced that the two-part docuseries “And She Could Be Next” will premiere on the network and at pov.org in June. The documentary is part of the network’s summer “Trailblazers” initiative,...
- 4/16/2020
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Dolly Parton makes a donation for coronavirus cure, Howie Mandel and Ashlee Simpson join the voice cast of “Pierre The Pigeon-Hawk” and American Documentary launches an artists emergency fund.
Research Donation
Dolly Parton has donated $1 million to Nashville’s Vanderbilt Hospital to help aid research to find a cure for the coronavirus.
“My longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure,” Parton said on Twitter on Wednesday. “I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”
Earlier this week, Dollywood and film marketing company Abramorama announced that beginning on April 2 at 7:00 pm Et, Parton will be reading a children’s book for bedtime in...
Research Donation
Dolly Parton has donated $1 million to Nashville’s Vanderbilt Hospital to help aid research to find a cure for the coronavirus.
“My longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure,” Parton said on Twitter on Wednesday. “I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”
Earlier this week, Dollywood and film marketing company Abramorama announced that beginning on April 2 at 7:00 pm Et, Parton will be reading a children’s book for bedtime in...
- 4/2/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
American Documentary announced today that it is re-opening its Artist Emergency Fund for those in the independent documentary community affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
American Documentary is a nonprofit behind the PBS series Pov, which is public television’s showcase for nonfiction films. The adapted fund of over $100,000 will provide rapid response grants up to $500 to assist artists with basic needs including food, immediate health needs and insurance premiums.
More from DeadlineCoping With Covid-19 Crisis: 'The Cave's' Dr. Amani Ballour On "Shocking" U.S. Response To Coronavirus & Grim Challenges Facing Medical WorkersCoping With Covid-19 Crisis: Three L.A. Indie Theater Workers Talk Furloughs, Weigh "Catastrophic" Threat To Future Of MoviegoingCoronavirus In Los Angeles County: Record 11 Deaths In Past 24 Hours; 513 New Cases Reported In Region - Update
“Last year when we ran the pilot, the need for a fund of this kind was already substantial. During this pandemic, the need is critical,...
American Documentary is a nonprofit behind the PBS series Pov, which is public television’s showcase for nonfiction films. The adapted fund of over $100,000 will provide rapid response grants up to $500 to assist artists with basic needs including food, immediate health needs and insurance premiums.
More from DeadlineCoping With Covid-19 Crisis: 'The Cave's' Dr. Amani Ballour On "Shocking" U.S. Response To Coronavirus & Grim Challenges Facing Medical WorkersCoping With Covid-19 Crisis: Three L.A. Indie Theater Workers Talk Furloughs, Weigh "Catastrophic" Threat To Future Of MoviegoingCoronavirus In Los Angeles County: Record 11 Deaths In Past 24 Hours; 513 New Cases Reported In Region - Update
“Last year when we ran the pilot, the need for a fund of this kind was already substantial. During this pandemic, the need is critical,...
- 4/1/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
PBS’s documentary arm Pov has snapped up U.S. broadcast rights for Kenyan director Sam Soko’s “Softie,” fresh off its world premiere in the World Documentary Cinema competition at Sundance, Variety has learned.
The film, which is the first Kenyan-produced movie to premiere at the festival, will air as part of the series’ 33rd season, which kicks off on PBS in June.
The doc follows political activist Boniface “Softie” Mwangi, who decides to run for office after years of fighting injustice in Kenya. While campaigning, Mwangi begins to realize the difficulty of combating his corrupt opponents with idealism alone, and soon finds that challenging the country’s entrenched political dynasties is putting his family at risk. The daring and audacious activist is then forced to decide if country really comes before family, as he’s always believed.
“Telling a story that speaks to our experiences, triumphs and tears as Kenyans,...
The film, which is the first Kenyan-produced movie to premiere at the festival, will air as part of the series’ 33rd season, which kicks off on PBS in June.
The doc follows political activist Boniface “Softie” Mwangi, who decides to run for office after years of fighting injustice in Kenya. While campaigning, Mwangi begins to realize the difficulty of combating his corrupt opponents with idealism alone, and soon finds that challenging the country’s entrenched political dynasties is putting his family at risk. The daring and audacious activist is then forced to decide if country really comes before family, as he’s always believed.
“Telling a story that speaks to our experiences, triumphs and tears as Kenyans,...
- 1/26/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Award-winner currently screening in New York, Los Angeles theatres.
Oscar-shortlisted documentary feature Advocate has been acquired for Us television by Pov, the independent documentary showcase that presents films on the country’s PBS public TV network.
The exclusive deal between distributor Film Movement, Cinepil and Pov includes windows for free video on demand (Fvod), streaming, and the PBS Passport service offered to public TV subscribers.
Directed by Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche, Advocate explores the human fallout of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the work of Lea Tsemel, a Jewish-Israeli lawyer who for decades has represented Palestinian political prisoners.
The...
Oscar-shortlisted documentary feature Advocate has been acquired for Us television by Pov, the independent documentary showcase that presents films on the country’s PBS public TV network.
The exclusive deal between distributor Film Movement, Cinepil and Pov includes windows for free video on demand (Fvod), streaming, and the PBS Passport service offered to public TV subscribers.
Directed by Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche, Advocate explores the human fallout of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the work of Lea Tsemel, a Jewish-Israeli lawyer who for decades has represented Palestinian political prisoners.
The...
- 1/6/2020
- by 31¦John Hazelton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Every year, documentaries that examine crimes are made. Some, such as Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America,” Joshua Rofe’s “Lorena” and most recently Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg’s “The Preppy Murder: Death in Central Park,” study a single crime decades after the fact in hopes of establishing a greater clarity and understanding of traumatic events.
But some crimes against humanity deserve immediate dissection and magnification, including mass shootings, sexual abuse and data-mining manipulation. Each is an offense that has directly and indirectly affected millions of Americans in recent years and each is an offense that continues to play out in our society. In these cases, documentarians take on crimes that need immediate absorption and contemplation.
Just four days after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, Emily Taguchi and Jake Lefferman traveled to Parkland, Fla., on assignment for ABC’s “Nightline.” Initially the duo...
But some crimes against humanity deserve immediate dissection and magnification, including mass shootings, sexual abuse and data-mining manipulation. Each is an offense that has directly and indirectly affected millions of Americans in recent years and each is an offense that continues to play out in our society. In these cases, documentarians take on crimes that need immediate absorption and contemplation.
Just four days after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, Emily Taguchi and Jake Lefferman traveled to Parkland, Fla., on assignment for ABC’s “Nightline.” Initially the duo...
- 12/7/2019
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The long-running PBS documentary series Pov has acquired U.S. broadcast rights to Midnight Traveler, the Hassan Fazili-directed feature that been collecting awards-season noms since it bowed this year winning a jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Pov, produced by American Documentary, will air the docu for the first time on Monday, December 30 as the second-to-last episode of the series’ 32nd season, followed by The Rescue List in March 2020.
Midnight Traveler is an autobiographical documentary chronicling the perilous journey Fazili’s family takes across central and west Asia, to Europe, after the Taliban puts a bounty on the Afghan director’s head. He is forced to flee with his wife and two young daughters, capturing along the way the dangers facing refugees seeking asylum and the love shared between a family on the run.
“There are many stories about refugees, but rarely do producers and news editors...
Pov, produced by American Documentary, will air the docu for the first time on Monday, December 30 as the second-to-last episode of the series’ 32nd season, followed by The Rescue List in March 2020.
Midnight Traveler is an autobiographical documentary chronicling the perilous journey Fazili’s family takes across central and west Asia, to Europe, after the Taliban puts a bounty on the Afghan director’s head. He is forced to flee with his wife and two young daughters, capturing along the way the dangers facing refugees seeking asylum and the love shared between a family on the run.
“There are many stories about refugees, but rarely do producers and news editors...
- 11/18/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The nominations are out for the 35th annual Ida Documentary Awards. Ten films are vying for the Best Feature nod, and the group has added a Best Director category for the first time — and all of those nominees are women.
One of the female helmers, For Sama director-producer Waad Al-Kataeb, is set to receive the Courage Under Fire Award. That honor is presented to documentarians displaying conspicuous bravery in the pursuit of truth.
“Back in Aleppo, I had no option but to fight the fears and horrors of this war through filming my experience both as a mother and as a female filmmaker,” Al-Kataeb said.
Read the full list of noms below.
“The Ida Documentary Awards recognizes excellence in nonfiction storytelling across a range of forms, and all of this year’s nominees and winners illustrate that documentary storytelling is one of the most vital art forms today,” said Simon Kilmurry,...
One of the female helmers, For Sama director-producer Waad Al-Kataeb, is set to receive the Courage Under Fire Award. That honor is presented to documentarians displaying conspicuous bravery in the pursuit of truth.
“Back in Aleppo, I had no option but to fight the fears and horrors of this war through filming my experience both as a mother and as a female filmmaker,” Al-Kataeb said.
Read the full list of noms below.
“The Ida Documentary Awards recognizes excellence in nonfiction storytelling across a range of forms, and all of this year’s nominees and winners illustrate that documentary storytelling is one of the most vital art forms today,” said Simon Kilmurry,...
- 10/23/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tribeca Film Institute and Gucci announced on Tuesday this year’s recipients for the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund.
Now in its 12th year, Tfi and Gucci have awarded $140,000 in grant funding, covered by Gucci, to support nine documentaries highlighting domestic and international matters, with a focus on female-led stories and filmmakers. The funding will cover the production and post-production of a number of the winning documentarians, as well as strategic campaign work and distribution efforts for two films.
“These filmmakers are highlighting urgent social issues through strong character-led stories — from a young, stateless woman fleeing violence and revealing the complex geo-history and politics between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, to a brother and sister fighting on opposite ends of the Libyan revolution, and a kaleidoscopic look into the immediate aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election,” said Monika Navarro, senior director of programs at Tribeca Film Institute, in a statement.
Now in its 12th year, Tfi and Gucci have awarded $140,000 in grant funding, covered by Gucci, to support nine documentaries highlighting domestic and international matters, with a focus on female-led stories and filmmakers. The funding will cover the production and post-production of a number of the winning documentarians, as well as strategic campaign work and distribution efforts for two films.
“These filmmakers are highlighting urgent social issues through strong character-led stories — from a young, stateless woman fleeing violence and revealing the complex geo-history and politics between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, to a brother and sister fighting on opposite ends of the Libyan revolution, and a kaleidoscopic look into the immediate aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election,” said Monika Navarro, senior director of programs at Tribeca Film Institute, in a statement.
- 10/15/2019
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The Nancy Schwartzman-directed documentary Roll Red Roll has been acquired by Together Films and will have a limited theatrical release starting March 22 at the Film Forum in New York. The launch marks Together Films’ first foray into the U.S. market and will come ahead of the documentary’s nationwide broadcast debut June 17 on PBS as the opening film for the 32nd season of its Pov series.
Roll Red Roll made its world premiere last year at the Tribeca Film Festival. A true-crime thriller that uncovers the social media-fueled “boys will be boys” culture at the root of high school sexual assault in America, Roll Red Roll unearths the complex motivations of both perpetrators and bystanders. It also looks unflinchingly at the role adults played in enabling the culture.
To coincide with the premiere of the documentary, producers have launched the Roll Red Roll impact campaign which will...
Roll Red Roll made its world premiere last year at the Tribeca Film Festival. A true-crime thriller that uncovers the social media-fueled “boys will be boys” culture at the root of high school sexual assault in America, Roll Red Roll unearths the complex motivations of both perpetrators and bystanders. It also looks unflinchingly at the role adults played in enabling the culture.
To coincide with the premiere of the documentary, producers have launched the Roll Red Roll impact campaign which will...
- 2/12/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The 34th Annual Ida Documentary Awards were handed out Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles with Bing Liu’s Minding The Gap taking top honors in the Best Feature category.
Hosted by actress and producer Ricki Lake, the ceremony also honored Floyd Russ’s Zion as Best Short as well as Netflix’s Wild Wild Country which won for Best Limited Series.
Other winners for the evening included HBO’s John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls for the ABC News VideoSource Award, PBS’ Pov for Best Curated Series, Showtime’s The Trade for Best Episodic Series, Mel Films for Best Short Form Series, and Jayisha Patel’s Circle for the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award. The New York Times’ Caliphate won the inaugural Best Audio Documentary category.
In addition, the Career Achievement Award was presented to three-time Academy Award winner Julia Reichert and Ida...
Hosted by actress and producer Ricki Lake, the ceremony also honored Floyd Russ’s Zion as Best Short as well as Netflix’s Wild Wild Country which won for Best Limited Series.
Other winners for the evening included HBO’s John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls for the ABC News VideoSource Award, PBS’ Pov for Best Curated Series, Showtime’s The Trade for Best Episodic Series, Mel Films for Best Short Form Series, and Jayisha Patel’s Circle for the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award. The New York Times’ Caliphate won the inaugural Best Audio Documentary category.
In addition, the Career Achievement Award was presented to three-time Academy Award winner Julia Reichert and Ida...
- 12/9/2018
- by Erik Pedersen and Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Rookie filmmaker Bing Liu’s “Minding The Gap” beat out the competition to win top honors at the 34th Annual Ida Documentary Awards at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday night. The portrait of a group of skateboarders took home Best Feature, Emerging Filmmaker and Best Editing. Liu had accepted a Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where the Pov film was acquired by Hulu.
Other winners include Floyd Russ’s “Zion” (Best Short), Netflix’s “Wild Wild Country” (Best Limited Series), HBO’s “John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls” (the ABC News VideoSource Award), PBS’ Pov (Best Curated Series), Showtime’s “The Trade” (Best Episodic Series), Mel Films (Best Short Form Series), and Jayisha Patel’s “Circle” (the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award). Both Melissa Haizlip’s “Mr. Soul!” and Steve Loveridge’s “Matangi / Maya / M.I.A.” won Best Music Documentary,...
Other winners include Floyd Russ’s “Zion” (Best Short), Netflix’s “Wild Wild Country” (Best Limited Series), HBO’s “John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls” (the ABC News VideoSource Award), PBS’ Pov (Best Curated Series), Showtime’s “The Trade” (Best Episodic Series), Mel Films (Best Short Form Series), and Jayisha Patel’s “Circle” (the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award). Both Melissa Haizlip’s “Mr. Soul!” and Steve Loveridge’s “Matangi / Maya / M.I.A.” won Best Music Documentary,...
- 12/9/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Rookie filmmaker Bing Liu’s “Minding The Gap” beat out the competition to win top honors at the 34th Annual Ida Documentary Awards at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday night. The portrait of a group of skateboarders took home Best Feature, Emerging Filmmaker and Best Editing. Liu had accepted a Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where the Pov film was acquired by Hulu.
Other winners include Floyd Russ’s “Zion” (Best Short), Netflix’s “Wild Wild Country” (Best Limited Series), HBO’s “John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls” (the ABC News VideoSource Award), PBS’ Pov (Best Curated Series), Showtime’s “The Trade” (Best Episodic Series), Mel Films (Best Short Form Series), and Jayisha Patel’s “Circle” (the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award). Both Melissa Haizlip’s “Mr. Soul!” and Steve Loveridge’s “Matangi / Maya / M.I.A.” won Best Music Documentary,...
Other winners include Floyd Russ’s “Zion” (Best Short), Netflix’s “Wild Wild Country” (Best Limited Series), HBO’s “John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls” (the ABC News VideoSource Award), PBS’ Pov (Best Curated Series), Showtime’s “The Trade” (Best Episodic Series), Mel Films (Best Short Form Series), and Jayisha Patel’s “Circle” (the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award). Both Melissa Haizlip’s “Mr. Soul!” and Steve Loveridge’s “Matangi / Maya / M.I.A.” won Best Music Documentary,...
- 12/9/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The International Documentary Assn. announced nominees for the 34th annual Ida Awards Wednesday, spotlighting the best in documentary filmmaking.
Among the feature nominees were mainstays on the circuit so far this year like Hulu’s “Crime + Punishment” and “Minding the Gap,” as well as National Geographic’s “Free Solo” and Focus Features’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
In recognition of another banner year for non-fiction cinema, which has been reflected in box office spikes around key titles this year, the Ida expanded the number of nominees in the best feature and short films categories to 10 films.
In “creative recognition” fields, winners and nominees were announced. “Distant Constellation” won the cinematography prize, while “Minding the Gap” took editing. “The Other Side of Everything” won the writing award, and the music category saw a tie, between “Bisbee ’17” and “Hale County This Morning, This Evening.”
Additionally, the Ida’s Courage Under...
Among the feature nominees were mainstays on the circuit so far this year like Hulu’s “Crime + Punishment” and “Minding the Gap,” as well as National Geographic’s “Free Solo” and Focus Features’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
In recognition of another banner year for non-fiction cinema, which has been reflected in box office spikes around key titles this year, the Ida expanded the number of nominees in the best feature and short films categories to 10 films.
In “creative recognition” fields, winners and nominees were announced. “Distant Constellation” won the cinematography prize, while “Minding the Gap” took editing. “The Other Side of Everything” won the writing award, and the music category saw a tie, between “Bisbee ’17” and “Hale County This Morning, This Evening.”
Additionally, the Ida’s Courage Under...
- 10/24/2018
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Variety Film + TV
The International Documentary Association is out with the nominees for its 2018 Ida Documentary Awards. Winners of the 34th edition will be announced December 8 duyring a ceremony hosted by Ricki Lake at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. See the full list of nominees below.
Up for Best Feature — which has been expanded to 10 nominees this year — are Stephen Maing’s Crime + Punishment, Kimberly Reed’s Dark Money, E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Free Solo, RaMell Ross’ Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Bing Liu’s Minding the Gap, Talal Derki’s Of Fathers and Sons, Talya Tibbon and Joshua Bennett’s Sky and Ground, Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar’s The Silence of Others, Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown’s United Skates and Morgan Neville’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor.
“This year’s nominees and winners of the Ida Awards reflects that 2018 has been a remarkable...
Up for Best Feature — which has been expanded to 10 nominees this year — are Stephen Maing’s Crime + Punishment, Kimberly Reed’s Dark Money, E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Free Solo, RaMell Ross’ Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Bing Liu’s Minding the Gap, Talal Derki’s Of Fathers and Sons, Talya Tibbon and Joshua Bennett’s Sky and Ground, Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar’s The Silence of Others, Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown’s United Skates and Morgan Neville’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor.
“This year’s nominees and winners of the Ida Awards reflects that 2018 has been a remarkable...
- 10/24/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
American Documentary (AmDoc), the producing company of the PBS series “POV,” has launched a new granting program today that will serve as an emergency fund to help filmmakers who face sudden and unforeseen calamities, such as health issues, eviction, or disasters. The program is being called the Artist Emergency Fund and was created as a direct response to concerns about career sustainability of those working in nonfiction, especially emerging filmmakers and those from underrepresented communities.
“For too many documentary filmmakers, a simple trip to the emergency room can mean years of mounting medical bills,” said Justine Nagan, executive producer/executive director of Pov/ American Documentary. “Our aim is to make AmDoc as supportive to filmmakers as possible, while also helping build a more inclusive industry that supports the most vulnerable among us. This type of grant program is common in other artistic disciplines, and it seemed time for filmmakers to have a safety net.
“For too many documentary filmmakers, a simple trip to the emergency room can mean years of mounting medical bills,” said Justine Nagan, executive producer/executive director of Pov/ American Documentary. “Our aim is to make AmDoc as supportive to filmmakers as possible, while also helping build a more inclusive industry that supports the most vulnerable among us. This type of grant program is common in other artistic disciplines, and it seemed time for filmmakers to have a safety net.
- 6/8/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Hulu has acquired the rights to Minding the Gap, Bing Liu’s Sundance Festival documentary about three young men who bond across racial lines to escape their volatile, Rust Belt family lives.
The film will be released as a Hulu Documentary both theatrically across key markets in the Us and on Hulu on August 17.
Bing Liu’s feature debut, shot in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, chronicles the lives and friendships of his skateboarding friends over the course of 12 years. As Hulu describes, the director “searches for correlations between his skateboarder friends’ turbulent upbringings and the complexities of modern-day masculinity.”
Among the film’s subjects is 23-year-old Zack, whose tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend deteriorates after the birth of their son, and 17-year-old Keire, struggling with his racial identity as he faces new responsibilities following the death of his father. “While navigating a difficult relationship between his camera, his friends,...
The film will be released as a Hulu Documentary both theatrically across key markets in the Us and on Hulu on August 17.
Bing Liu’s feature debut, shot in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, chronicles the lives and friendships of his skateboarding friends over the course of 12 years. As Hulu describes, the director “searches for correlations between his skateboarder friends’ turbulent upbringings and the complexities of modern-day masculinity.”
Among the film’s subjects is 23-year-old Zack, whose tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend deteriorates after the birth of their son, and 17-year-old Keire, struggling with his racial identity as he faces new responsibilities following the death of his father. “While navigating a difficult relationship between his camera, his friends,...
- 6/5/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate retains international and Us distribution and home entertainment rights to Participant Media’s first docuseries.
Source: Kartemquin Films
America To Me
Starz has acquired the unscripted 10-part docuseries America to Me from Participant Media and Steve James that premiered in part in Sundance.
Participant Media and Kartemquin Films produced the series – the first five episodes premiered in Park City in the Indie Episodic showcase – that focuses on the challenge of racial and educational inequalities facing American teenagers today.
The series follows students, teachers and administrators in suburban Chicago’s Oak Park and River Forest High School over the course of one year. The school is regarded as one of America’s most exemplary and diverse public schools.
Starz acquired all Us multiplatform pay-tv and Svod rights to the series. Lionsgate, which represents international rights to Participant’s feature film and select documentaries, will retain all international and Us distribution and home entertainment rights to the series...
Source: Kartemquin Films
America To Me
Starz has acquired the unscripted 10-part docuseries America to Me from Participant Media and Steve James that premiered in part in Sundance.
Participant Media and Kartemquin Films produced the series – the first five episodes premiered in Park City in the Indie Episodic showcase – that focuses on the challenge of racial and educational inequalities facing American teenagers today.
The series follows students, teachers and administrators in suburban Chicago’s Oak Park and River Forest High School over the course of one year. The school is regarded as one of America’s most exemplary and diverse public schools.
Starz acquired all Us multiplatform pay-tv and Svod rights to the series. Lionsgate, which represents international rights to Participant’s feature film and select documentaries, will retain all international and Us distribution and home entertainment rights to the series...
- 1/22/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The International Documentary Association has announced its initial round of nominees for the 2017 Ida Documentary Awards, including special mentions and nods for limited series, curated series, episodic series, and more. Nominees for Best Feature and Best Short, and awards for creative recognition, will be announced on November 1. The Ida will honor director Marcel Mettelsiefen’s “Watani: My Homeland” with the Pare Lorentz Award. Also receiving a special mention in the category is Joe Berlinger’s “Intent to Destroy.”
Other standouts from this first list of nominees include Bryan Fogel’s controversial “Icarus,” Ryan White’s Netflix series “The Keepers,” Ken Burns’ revelatory miniseries “The Vietnam War,” and many more of the year’s best in documentary offerings.
Read More:Joan Didion and Arthur Miller Get the Documentary Treatment From Family Members, And That Makes All the Difference — Nyff
The 33rd edition of the annual ceremony will take place Saturday, December...
Other standouts from this first list of nominees include Bryan Fogel’s controversial “Icarus,” Ryan White’s Netflix series “The Keepers,” Ken Burns’ revelatory miniseries “The Vietnam War,” and many more of the year’s best in documentary offerings.
Read More:Joan Didion and Arthur Miller Get the Documentary Treatment From Family Members, And That Makes All the Difference — Nyff
The 33rd edition of the annual ceremony will take place Saturday, December...
- 10/16/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Hot on the heels of his Netflix series, Bill Nye is getting a documentary series. The series will focus on Nye's journey to advocate for the use of Science in an important time in society. Pov will focus on Nye at the forefront discussing his work in the field of Climate Science. Pov director and executive producer Justine Nagan had this to say in a statement:
“Many of us grew up with Bill Nye The Science Guy. He loved science, and he inspired a whole generation of kids to share that passion through his PBS show. Now, as champion for climate science, this film will spark dialogue across ideological lines.”
Nye's portion of the series is set for 2018, will you be watching? Thanks Deadline for the heads up!
“Many of us grew up with Bill Nye The Science Guy. He loved science, and he inspired a whole generation of kids to share that passion through his PBS show. Now, as champion for climate science, this film will spark dialogue across ideological lines.”
Nye's portion of the series is set for 2018, will you be watching? Thanks Deadline for the heads up!
- 6/14/2017
- by Mick Joest
- GeekTyrant
Motherland premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and screened at the 2017 Berlinale.
Brooklyn-based film and TV distributor FilmRise has acquired exclusive North American distribution rights to Ramona S. Diaz’s documentary Motherland from London-based sales and distribution company Dogwoof.
FilmRise plans a theatrical release for this summer via The Film Collaborative, while it will have its television premiere on PBS’s Pov series this autumn.
Motherland takes place in one of the world’s largest and busiest maternity hospitals in the Philippines. Diaz follows three women as they navigate through the severe conditions of giving birth there, from jam-packed delivery rooms to overflowing corridors where babies are misplaced and then found.
The documentary had its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, where Diaz won the world cinema documentary special jury award for commanding vision. The film went on to screen at the 2017 Berlinale in the specialty Forum section.
The film will also be available to stream...
Brooklyn-based film and TV distributor FilmRise has acquired exclusive North American distribution rights to Ramona S. Diaz’s documentary Motherland from London-based sales and distribution company Dogwoof.
FilmRise plans a theatrical release for this summer via The Film Collaborative, while it will have its television premiere on PBS’s Pov series this autumn.
Motherland takes place in one of the world’s largest and busiest maternity hospitals in the Philippines. Diaz follows three women as they navigate through the severe conditions of giving birth there, from jam-packed delivery rooms to overflowing corridors where babies are misplaced and then found.
The documentary had its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, where Diaz won the world cinema documentary special jury award for commanding vision. The film went on to screen at the 2017 Berlinale in the specialty Forum section.
The film will also be available to stream...
- 5/30/2017
- ScreenDaily
Ezra Edelman, director and producer of 'O.J.:Made In America' will give a keynote at Aidc 2017..
The 30th installment of the Australian International Documentary Conference (Aidc) has attracted a variety of international producers as its headline speakers.
They include head of Passion Pictures John Battsek (One Day In September); vice president of the Tribeca Film Institute Amy Hobby (What Happened, Miss Simone?) and Ezra Edelman, director and producer of O.J.: Made In America.
Edelman and Battsek will deliver the opening session about using sports documentary as a way to explore power and racial discrimination. Hobby will appear in conversation about the experiences of documentary filmmakers on the festival and awards circuit.
All three will also participate as mentors in the Access@Aidc mentorship program..
Other conference sessions announced so far include:
– Revolution or Evolution?, a session about the future of .serious gaming. and virtual reality documentary with Navid Khonsari,...
The 30th installment of the Australian International Documentary Conference (Aidc) has attracted a variety of international producers as its headline speakers.
They include head of Passion Pictures John Battsek (One Day In September); vice president of the Tribeca Film Institute Amy Hobby (What Happened, Miss Simone?) and Ezra Edelman, director and producer of O.J.: Made In America.
Edelman and Battsek will deliver the opening session about using sports documentary as a way to explore power and racial discrimination. Hobby will appear in conversation about the experiences of documentary filmmakers on the festival and awards circuit.
All three will also participate as mentors in the Access@Aidc mentorship program..
Other conference sessions announced so far include:
– Revolution or Evolution?, a session about the future of .serious gaming. and virtual reality documentary with Navid Khonsari,...
- 11/8/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
America To Me, capturing life at a top Chicago high school championing diversity, is Participant Media’s first unscripted series.
Participant Media has boarded respected Us documentary-maker Steve James’s upcoming unscripted series America To Me following a year in the life of a top Chicago high school with an exemplary track-record and one of the diverse student populations in the Us.
David Linde, CEO of Participant, announced the company’s involvement in the series during a Media Mastermind Keynote at Mipcom on Tuesday. He said America To Me represented the company’s commitment to socially relevant entertainment.
He also noted that it marked Participant’s first foray into the unscripted series arena. Having focused on feature films up until recently, Participant has started expanding into other formats in recent months to extend the reach of its content.
“Expanding into the unscripted realm with this vibrant and compelling series with a filmmaker of Steve’s calibre and creative...
Participant Media has boarded respected Us documentary-maker Steve James’s upcoming unscripted series America To Me following a year in the life of a top Chicago high school with an exemplary track-record and one of the diverse student populations in the Us.
David Linde, CEO of Participant, announced the company’s involvement in the series during a Media Mastermind Keynote at Mipcom on Tuesday. He said America To Me represented the company’s commitment to socially relevant entertainment.
He also noted that it marked Participant’s first foray into the unscripted series arena. Having focused on feature films up until recently, Participant has started expanding into other formats in recent months to extend the reach of its content.
“Expanding into the unscripted realm with this vibrant and compelling series with a filmmaker of Steve’s calibre and creative...
- 10/19/2016
- ScreenDaily
Documentarian Steve James, director of Life Itself and Hoop Dreams, will direct and produce America to Me, a nonfiction series looking at a year in the life of a Chicago public school.
Participant Media, whose production credits include Oscar-winners Spotlight and Citizenfour, will produce America to Me as the company's first nonscripted TV series.
James will direct and executive produce the series with Kartemquin Films. Gordon Quinn, Betsy Steinberg, Justine Nagan and Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann of Participant will executive produce.
America to Me will focus on Chicago’s Oak Park and River Forest High School, one of the country's most diverse ...
Participant Media, whose production credits include Oscar-winners Spotlight and Citizenfour, will produce America to Me as the company's first nonscripted TV series.
James will direct and executive produce the series with Kartemquin Films. Gordon Quinn, Betsy Steinberg, Justine Nagan and Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann of Participant will executive produce.
America to Me will focus on Chicago’s Oak Park and River Forest High School, one of the country's most diverse ...
- 10/18/2016
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
“Unbroken Glass” is a documentary directed by filmmaker Dinesh Das Sabu about his journey to uncover the truth following a family tragedy. Set to make its world premiere at the 2016 Seattle South Asian Film Festival on October 22, IndieWire has your first look at the film in the trailer below.
At the age of six, Sabu and his older siblings became orphans. With little to no idea who his parents were or where they came from, he decided to piece together their story and his in a documentary. Filmed over the course of five years, he soon discovered silenced family history of mental illness and disturbing truths – his mother was schizophrenic and died by suicide – all while reconciling the past and confronting the trauma of losing his parents.
Read More: ‘She Started It’ Trailer: Documentary Aims To Bolster Female Entrepreneurship
“I hope that telling my family’s story will raise awareness...
At the age of six, Sabu and his older siblings became orphans. With little to no idea who his parents were or where they came from, he decided to piece together their story and his in a documentary. Filmed over the course of five years, he soon discovered silenced family history of mental illness and disturbing truths – his mother was schizophrenic and died by suicide – all while reconciling the past and confronting the trauma of losing his parents.
Read More: ‘She Started It’ Trailer: Documentary Aims To Bolster Female Entrepreneurship
“I hope that telling my family’s story will raise awareness...
- 9/28/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
PBS' Pov independent documentary series will open its 29th season on Monday, May 23, 2016 on PBS with the national broadcast premiere of Kelly Duane de la Vega and Katie Galloway’s "The Return," it was announced by Pov Executive Producers Justine Nagan and Chris White. In 2012, California amended its “Three Strikes” law - one of the harshest criminal sentencing policies in the country. The passage of Proposition 36 marked the first time in U.S. history that citizens voted to shorten sentences of those currently incarcerated. Within days, the reintegration of thousands of “lifers” was underway. The Return examines this unprecedented reform through the eyes of those on the...
- 3/18/2016
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Read More: PBS' 'Independent Lens' Documentary Series Announces 2016 Winter-Spring Season Lineup The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has renewed its support of PBS long-running documentary series "Pov" with a grant of $2.25 million over the next three years. Produced by American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc), "Pov" is a series that tells stories from unique and varied perspectives by sharing 14 to 16 feature-length documentaries every year. Since it's inception in 1988, "Pov" has won 34 Emmys and 3 Academy Awards. The 2016 season will explore topics as varied as black male achievement, the emotional side of interactive games and the crisis caused by drug cartels on the U.S.-Mexican border, among other topics. "MacArthur has been an indispensable supporter of 'Pov' since the series' very first broadcast in 1988," said AmDoc Executive Director and "Pov" executive producer Justine Nagan....
- 1/28/2016
- by Bryn Gelbart
- Indiewire
Read More: Gender Parity in Documentary Filmmaking is a Fiction Let's cut to the chase: Hollywood is sexist. It was one of the biggest entertainment stories of 2015. Called out by Patricia Arquette at the Oscars, reinforced year-round by Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence, and taken up as a serious issue by the federal government's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the lack of female film and TV directors and Hollywood's widespread discriminatory pay practices generated a lot of attention in the last year. But what about the more gender-friendly documentary film industry? Surely, the world of nonfiction, with its prominent female directors (Barbara Kopple, Chris Hegedus, Liz Garbus, Rory Kennedy, Lucy Walker, Jehane Noujaim, Laura Poitras) and powerful female producers (Sheila Nevins, Molly Thompson, Lisa Nishimura, Sally Jo Fifer, Justine Nagan) wouldn't be biased against women? But that was the question posed by entertainment attorney Victoria Cook in a lengthy...
- 1/7/2016
- by Anthony Kaufman
- Indiewire
Read More: Justine Nagan Appointed as Executive Director of American Documentary, Inc. and 'Pov' Kartemquin Films, the award-winning not-for-profit documentary production collective, has announced Betsy Steinberg as the organization’s new executive director. Steinberg will begin at Kartemquin ("Hoop Dreams," "The Interrupters," etc.) on December 1, just ahead of its 50th anniversary year in 2016. In the position, Steinberg succeeds Justine Nagan, who was recently named Executive Director of American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) and Executive Producer of Pov (Point of View), after over a decade with Kartemquin. Steinberg will oversee all aspects of the company's filmmaking, programs and operations, serving as executive producer on all new films. "Of all the candidates, Betsy immediately demonstrated the ethics and passion we know Kartemquin needs, and we are confident she will lead the staff and filmmakers to meet the challenges ahead while maintaining the...
- 11/17/2015
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Read More: Justine Nagan Appointed as Executive Director of American Documentary, Inc. and 'Pov' The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has announced that La Frances Hui will join the Museum as Associate Curator in the Department of Film, beginning October 13. In the role, Hui will serve as a strategic collaborator in driving the department’s extensive calendar of programs, exhibitions, collections and scholarship under the leadership of Rajendra Roy, the Museum’s Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film. She joins MoMA following 15 years at the Asia Society in New York, where she served as Film Curator and Associate Director of Cultural Programs. "MoMA's commitment to cinema has always extended beyond North American centers of production to include work from innovative international filmmakers," said Roy. "La's rich knowledge of Asian cinema, combined with her unique professional experience in program development and implementation, will afford us with critical...
- 10/2/2015
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.