Although the 2011 Cannes Film Festival was one of the most interesting, engaging and enjoyable editions in recent memory, there was only one documentary in the Official Selection (Out of Competition): The Big Fix, from husband-and-wife team Josh and Rebecca Tickell, examines circumstances surrounding the April 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore rig-what scientists in the film call "the biggest cover-up in US history and the most devastating environmental catastrophe in human history." Stories told by local fisherman and their families damaged not only by the loss of livelihood
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'Battle for Brooklyn' opens June 17 at the Cinema Village in New York City.
On a flight to Montana, I sit next to a 30-something man with crew cut, tattoos and work boots. "Going home to Missoula?" he asks. "No," I answer. "And you?" "Yeah, I was just in Salt Lake for a surgical equipment convention showin' how to use these C arms I'm makin'...."So why Missoula?" he asks. "A film festival," I tell him, assured this would end the conversation. The man smiles with excitement. "Is this week of the Wildlife Film Festival? I almost forgot! I'll have to go to some of that.” First impressions say a lot. This is not just another film festival; it’s an event the community is
"FINE CUT: Exploring the Director/Editor Collaboration"
In a world increasingly crowded with film festivals, the 48th Flaherty Film Seminar was an odd bird. More like a cult indoctrination session than a pleasant film experience, the seminar is organized around a few simple and obsessive ideas. The first idea is that all of the attendees—filmmakers, students, film programmers, curators, academics and a few film-lovers—are required to attend all 20 sessions, each of which consists of a screening and an hour-long discussion. The second important facet is that none of the attendees is allowed to know the schedule, order or nature of the films before
As we enter the holiday season, IDA celebrates a banner year! Looking back at the challenges we've faced these past few years, which the Board of Directors and our dedicated staff have skillfully tackled, it gives me great satisfaction to have been of service to this organization while working to be part of its future! Nearing the end of 2006, we honor the finalists and winners of the 22nd Annual IDA Distinguished Documentary Achievement Awards at our IDA Awards Gala Benefit on December 8. We salute the following individual honorees: Haskell Wexler, Career Achievement Award; Pat Aufderheide
I have always felt woefully ignorant of US history, mainly because I spent most of my time in high school classes nodding off, due to less-than-inspiring US history teachers. As I write this on Election Day, however, suddenly I'm wishing I'd paid a bit more time listening instead of napping. Luckily, PBS and WNET/Thirteen have come up with a solution. The Supreme Court, a four-part series about the history of the Supreme Court, premieres on PBS on January 31, 2007. The idea for the series was born about five years ago when executive producer Jody Sheff was thinking about what had not yet been
Good Cameras Make for Great Documentaries The students of San Pedro High School participating in IDA's Docs Rock program got new camers - thanks to the fundraising efforts of their teacher, Mr. Tony Saavedra, who used DonorsChoose.org to raise the money. Additional funding for the program was provided by City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs; Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council; and Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. Thanks to all of you who donated. Here's a letter from Mr. Saavedra expressing his gratitude: I cannot begin to thank you enough for funding our need for