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Finally managed to watch DETROPIA (now on Netflix) and absolutely loved it!
The film tells the story of the collapse of the American dream in the city of Detroit from the perspective of several fascinating characters. Stunningly beautiful visually, it portrays what follows after the economy crashes.
Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, who made films like The Boys from Baraka and Jesus Camp, the film refuses to abandon hope or resistance. It tries to envision a new feature for postindustrial America and puts the Motor City in a new and unexpected light…
Watch DETROPIA free on PBS’ Independent Lens before 17 June!
Check out Alex Gibney‘s latest documentary WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS. The film premiered at Sundance in January 2013 and will be released in New York and Los Angeles today. You can see a full list of the theatre locations and timings here.
If curious you can also watch a CBS interview with the director, as well as a short radio interview on NPR.
Reviews have been mixed but I can’t wait to see it!
This is just a note to say I got a great gig working with the Mindpirates, a creative collective from Berlin who were invited by the Red Bull Music Academy to make a 60-minute documentary about the 15 years of the Academy, with a special focus on the NY edition. The feature film called HEAVEN OF MUSIC, directed by Ralf Schmerberg, will celebrate the journey of a musician through self-reflection and collaboration and the joy music brings to the world. I will be coordinating the production and meeting a ton of talented musicians and artists so quite excited about it!
Will most likely have no time for posts over the next two weeks but might see you at some of the RBMA events instead!
After Alex Gibney’s Mea Maxima Culpa, another investigative documentary on child abuse in the Catholic Church is on its way!
The person behind the new film project – Crime & Cover Up – is Sarah Macdonald whose films ‘Suing the Pope’ I&II were responsible for the resignation of Bishop Brendan Comiskey in Ireland. Her film ‘Sex Crimes & the Vatican’ was responsible for exposing the church’s use of Crimens Sollicitationis to silence victims of abuse upon threat of excommunication. It caused a widespread scandal globally and in Italy, prompted a Government debate on whether the film should be broadcast and a walk-out from the Board of RAI.
This investigation will focus on the true extent of widespread, systemic, decade long child abuse across England & Wales that has remained hidden. It will aim to expose a system that does nothing to force the Church to hand abusers over to the authorities. The filmmakers claim they have secured exclusive access to incriminating documents and victims who are ready and willing to tell their stories of abuse for the first time.
In order to remain absolutely independent the team has decided to fund the project in a grass-root manner. So please check out the full IndieGoGo campaign and chip in.
Feel like this is a cause that really deserves our support!
Went to the opening of the Wrinkles of the City Havana exhibition at the Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery in Chelsea last night. The collaboration between French street artists JR (author of the Inside Out TED-winning project) and José Parlá features black-and-white portraits of senior Cuban citizens on the walls of city buildings. Parlá, who is of Cuban descent, interlaces the images with abstract calligraphic writings and color. The result is an impressive contrast to the political propaganda on the streets of Havana.
To me the opening was exiting not just in terms of seeing the amazing prints but also because of meeting the artists for the first time. As some of you know, I have been working on a documentary project called EXIT DESTINATION: CUBA which will feature Cuban street art. We agreed to talk about it more so fingers crossed!
Apart from the 12 portraits, you can see a site-specipic canvas (check out my Instagram widget below) and a short documentary film about the making of the Wrinkles project. The exhibition is on until 12 July so don’t miss it!
Just saw The Imposter – a fascinating investigative/psychological thriller documentary, directed by Bart Layton. The story is about a young Frenchman who claims to a grieving Texas family that he is their 16-year-old son Nicholas who has been missing for 3 years. Though the family accepts him, suspicion starts to grow. How could the Barclay’s blonde, blue-eyed son have returned with darker skin and eyes? How could his personality and even accent have changed so profoundly? Why does the family not seem to notice the glaring differences? And if this person who has arrived in Texas isn’t the Barclay’s missing child . . . who on earth is he? And what really happened to Nicholas?
Produced by the creators of Project Nim and Man on Wire, this film puts the audience into detective shoes much like Thin Blue Line – the classic in this genre. Creative re-enactments and at least two fascinating twist will guarantee you stay alert!
Remember French street artist and activist JR and his project Inside Out?
INSIDE OUT: THE PEOPLE'S ART PROJECT - a documentary about the world's largest participatory art project is about to premiere at Tribeca Film Fest. Travel the globe with French artist JR as he motivates entire communities to define their most important causes with incredibly passionate displays of giant black and white portraits pasted in the street. In capturing the process, Alastair Siddons creates a glowing testament to the power of image and the role that art can play in transforming communities. The premiere is tomorrow but you can also catch it next week (I already got tix for Thursday!).
Check out the latest Inside Out example from the North Pole - part of the #savethearctic movement. The action was an opposition to government and corporate interests who are scrambling to claim region to exploit its vast natural resources which are becoming available due to climate change. More...