Doc U: Master Class with Director Joshua Oppenheimer

Join us for a unique three-hour journey with filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer, director of 2012’s ground-breaking, Oscar®-nominated The Act of Killing and its recent, equally provocative, companion piece, The Look of Silence, as we explore the issues and ideas at the heart of these two masterpieces. Along with illuminating stories about how the films were made, Joshua will include essential clips that illustrate key aspects of his filmmaking process and engage in a lively back-and-forth discussion with attendees. Werner Herzog said about the director’s cut of The Act of Killing: “Half a century from now, this film will still stand out as something no one has ever seen before, and no one will ever see again.” Joshua’s first Master Class in Southern California, this event is destined to be an unforgettable experience.

Both films examine, from profoundly different perspectives, the aftermath of the 1965-66 genocide in Indonesia that followed a military coup and ushered in a period in which those opposed to the military dictatorship were accused with impunity and killed. This class is a must for filmmakers and documentary enthusiasts who want to engage with a director who is using the documentary form to confront the most profound issues of our age.

In this Master Class, Joshua will focus on three aspects of his 10-year filmmaking process: