This month, we’re featuring Maya Zinshtein, one of our international members in our Fiscal Sponsorship Program for her project, ‘Til Kingdom Come. Maya began her work in the documentary filmmaking world first as an investigative journalist and documentary producer, then most recently as a director. IDA: What is the inspiration behind creating ‘Til Kingdom Come? MAYA ZINSHTEIN: ‘Til Kingdom Come follows the untold story of the unholy alliance between Christian Evangelicals in the United States and the State of Israel. This bond was celebrated during Trump’s presidency and shaped the lives of
Latest Posts
Before the coronavirus crisis, the “essential worker”—flexible shorthand for the anonymous, hardworking, underpaid populace that allow our country (and all countries) to function—was hidden in plain sight. But with this sudden awareness that not just healthcare professionals, but also everyone from factory workers to grocery store employees are putting their lives on the line for little acknowledgment and even less financial renumeration should come some collective soul-searching. Fortunately, there’s Loira Limbal’s Through the Night to spur us on. In her Tribeca-premiering (and IDA Enterprise
The recently concluded International Documentary Film Festival at Amsterdam, the largest documentary film festival in the world, managed to host some live events, while most of the activity was virtual. Even so, almost as many film professionals attended as in previous years, and the socially distanced live events were nearly sold out. The recurring theme of this year’s festival—one that has been building ever since Orwa Nyrabia took over the festival from its founder, Ally Derks—is that of decolonizing the documentary. That was as evident in the films as in the many panels, post-film
Screen Time is your curated weekly guide to excellent documentaries and nonfiction programs that you can watch at home. Premiering December 8 on HBO, 40 Years a Prisoner, from Tommy Oliver, chronicles one of the most controversial shootouts in American history: the 1978 police raid on the radical, back-to-nature group MOVE by the Philadelphia Police Department. Using eyewitness accounts and archival footage of the confrontation, the film illuminates the story of a city grappling with racial tension and police brutality with alarming topicality and modern-day relevance. Mike Africa Jr., the son
Essential Doc Reads is our curated selection of recent features and important news items about the documentary form and its processes, from around the internet, as well as from the Documentary magazine archive. We hope you enjoy! The New York Times’ Elisabeth Vincentelli talks to HBO’s executive vice presidents of documentary and family programming, Lisa Heller and Nancy Abraham, about how the cabler has fared in the post-Sheila Nevins era, amid heightened competition from the streaming giants. It’s a question of being open to where the story takes you, and alert to the cues and the
Screen Time is your curated weekly guide to excellent documentaries and nonfiction programs that you can watch at home. Streaming in virtual theaters through Film Movement starting December 2, David Osit’s Mayor, an IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund grantee, follows Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah, during his second term in office. His immediate goals: repave the sidewalks, attract more tourism, and plan the city's Christmas celebrations. His ultimate mission: to end the occupation of Palestine. Rich with detailed observation and a surprising amount of humor, Mayor offers a portrait
If there’s a silver lining to festivals that went virtual during the pandemic, it’s this: A whole nation of viewers could potentially participate. The question was how to let everyone know. That challenge was on the mind of organizers when planning the eleventh edition of DOC NYC. Artistic Director Thom Powers knew one thing for sure: “It was very important to us to not shrink the festival. A lot of film festivals this year had either cancelled or reduced in size because the shift to an online environment was daunting enough. I understand that decision. But for me, what that reduction means is
Errol Morris is one of the most prodigious documentary filmmakers of our time. His work has influenced generations of documentarians for over 40 years. And from his pet cemetery film Gates of Heaven (1978) to his portrait of right-wing provocateur Steve Bannon, American Dharma (2018), he has been adored and controversial, and has challenged the art of documentary filmmaking. But throughout all his films, Morris has displayed a fascination and passion in seeking to understand his fellow humans, attempting to reveal what makes us tick—for better or for worse, as he would say. With My Psychedelic
Alex Winter has worn many hats in his 55 years. As a youth, he acted on Broadway. After college, he headed out to Los Angeles, where he continued to work as an actor and directed both documentaries ( Downloaded, The Panama Papers) and narrative films ( Freaked, Fever). But like many of the child actors who were the subjects of his last documentary, Showbiz Kids (2020), regardless of all those hats he has worn, and will continue to wear, he will forever be associated with a role he played early in his career—that of “Bill” in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and its two sequels. For the last
Crip Camp, MLK/FBI, Time and The Truffle Hunters Receive Multiple Nominations. Virtual Awards Ceremony Jan 16, 2021.