Sunday evening at Sundance featured two rich celebrations of the art of non-fiction by companies with multiple films playing in the fest.
Participant Media and Entertainment Weekly held a Conversation with filmmakers Alex Gibney (Casino Jack and the United States of Money), Davis Guggenheim (Waiting for Superman), Lucy Walker (Countdown to Zero) and Mark Lewis (Cane Toads: The Conquest 3D) at the Gen Art Lounge @ Sky Lodge.
Moderated by EW Los Angeles bureau chief Sean Smith, the spirited panel discussion touched on the creative possibilities of the form, choices about topics and social action films. Plus, there were cocktails and yummy soft pretzels! Here's an excerpt from the conversation:
Later that evening, I joined HBO Documentary Films to "Party in Real Time" and celebrate their festival films at a dinner held at the Cabin restaurant at the Canyons. HBO Sundance titles include U.S. Competition docs 12th and Delaware (Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing) and A Small Act (Jennifer Arnold); World Cinema Competition doc Secrets of the Tribe (Jose Padilha); and Shorts Program doc The Fence (Rory Kennedy).
The food was fantastic and the crowd even more so. Attending doc filmmakers and supporters included director Amir Bar-Lev, composer Miriam Cutler (Family Affair), Lisa Leeman (editor/writer, Made in L.A.), SnagFilms Andrew Mer, Tribeca Enterprise's Julie La'Bassiere, editor Kate Amend and the IDA's Board president Eddie Schmidt and executive director Michael Lumpkin.
I'll be speaking with Rachel and Heidi later this week, so keep your eye out for a 12th and Delaware Doc Shot!