Posted by editor@vimooz.com on December 31, 2008 under Documentary | Comments are off for this article
Somebody Told Me About… Carla Bruni
Carla Bruni has allowed a British film-maker’s cameras into her home, to give a revealing insight into her private life with French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. The documentary, which was made by Scottish movie-maker George Scott and is entitled Somebody Told Me About… Carla Bruni, will be aired in France on New Year’s Day and broadcast in the UK next month. Read more …
Filmmaker plans to use prosthetic eye camera for documentary
Toronto filmmaker Rob Spence says he is getting a tiny video camera put inside a prosthetic eye to allow him to secretly film his subjects. He’s not alone in his quest for an eye camera. San Francisco artist Tanya Vlach wants a camera implant in her prosthetic eye and has put out a call on her blog for engineers to build her an eye cam, which could let her shoot video from her perspective or “lifecast” events. Read more …
Documentary filmmaker Quentin Aanenson dies
Quentin C. Aanenson, a fighter pilot and a subject of Ken Burns’ documentary “The War” and the producer of his own film a decade earlier, Aanenson died Sunday of cancer at his home in Bethesda, his son, Jerry said. He was 87. He wrote, filmed and narrated the documentary, “A Fighter Pilot’s Story,” which related his wartime experiences and was shown on public television around the country starting in 1994. Read more …
The Rescuers, Heroes of the Holocaust
Filmmaker Michael King is producing and directing the feature-length documentary “The Rescuers, Heroes of the Holocaust,” which focuses on the efforts of non-Jewish diplomats. Read more …
‘Liquid Assets’ Documentary to Air on PBS in Phoenix
“Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure” tells the story of essential infrastructure systems: drinking water, wastewater, and storm water. These complex and aging systems — some in the ground for more than 100 years — are critical for public health, public safety and economic prosperity. The documentary highlights communities from across the United States, providing an understanding of hidden water infrastructure assets, demonstrating watershed protection approaches, and illustrating twenty-first century solutions.
The documentary is scheduled to air locally January 4th, on KAET, Channel 8, from 2-3:30p.m.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on December 30, 2008 under Documentary | Comments are off for this article
This academy award-winning documentary follows the political career of Harvey Milk, from a neighborhood activist to becoming a symbol of gay political achievement, through to his assassination at San Francisco’s city hall.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on under Awards, Foreign Film | Comments are off for this article
Foreign language film enthusiasts will have an additional reason to celebrate on Golden Globe Weekend as filmmakers from Germany, Sweden, Israel, France and Italy participate in the Fifth Annual Hollywood Foreign Press Association Foreign Language Film Nominees Symposium on Saturday, January 10 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood at 1:00 pm.
The free round table panel discussion with the five directors of the Golden Globe Award-nominated foreign language films will be moderated by Mike Goodridge, HFPA Vice President and U.S. Editor of Screen International.
The event follows special screenings of the nominated movies at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica January 7-9.
The five nominated foreign language films are:
– France, “I’ve Loved You So Long,” Philippe Claudel, director
– Germany, “The Baader-Meinhof Complex,” Uli Edel, director
– Israel, “Waltz With Bashir,” Ari Folman, director
– Italy, “Gomorra,” Matteo Garrone, director
– Sweden/Denmark, “Everlasting Moments,” Jan Troell, director (pictured)
The seminar and screenings are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian and Aero Theatres. The seminar is free but there is a ticket charge to view the nominated foreign language films. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.fandango.com. Additional information on the films is available at www.americancinematheque.com.
“The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards” will take place Sunday, January 11, 2009 at The Beverly Hilton with a live telecast airing on NBC at 8 PM (EST.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on December 29, 2008 under Documentary, HBO, Television | Comments are off for this article
“They Killed Sister Dorothy”
A documentary by a Denver filmmaker prompted a reinvestigation of a Brazilian rancher prosecutors say orchestrated the execution of a Roman Catholic nun in the Amazon. Sister Dorothy Stang was killed in February 2005 on public rainforest sought by ranchers for timber cutting and cattle grazing. The documentary “They Killed Sister Dorothy” was released earlier this year by Denver filmmaker Daniel Junge. Read more …
I Am Choke No Joke
A former producer of BET’s Rap City and one-time Roc-A-Fella employee, Choke has combined footage stemming from over a decade and turned it into a probing documentary called I Am Choke No Joke. In the film, he offers his take on what caused the Roc-A-Fella fall-out. Choke hinted at a few segments that will be seen in his documentary and some of the main underlying issues that created the tension between Jay-Z and Dame (pictured). Read more …
‘Le Cirque: A table in heaven’
Andrew Rossi’s 2007 documentary, ‘Le Cirque: A table in heaven’ about Le Cirque restaurant, one of NY City’s most revered celebrity hangouts premieres tonight on HBO . Read more …
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on December 27, 2008 under Documentary | Comments are off for this article
“The Black Candle” is the first ever documentary about the African-American cultural holiday Kwanzaa featuring narration by Dr. Maya Angelou as well as some of her original poems. Writer-producer-director M.K. Asante, Jr. takes viewers across the United States, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean to look at the evolution of Kwanzaa and why 22 million celebrants embrace the holiday annually from December 26th – January 1st.
“The Black Candle” also explores the seven principles of Kwanzaa (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith) and how these principles can positively impact everyday life.
Director M.K. Asante, Jr. is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and professor of creative writing and film at Morgan State University. Described by the Los Angeles Times as one of “America’s best storytellers,” Asante wrote and produced the film 500 Years Later; winner of five international awards including the Breaking the Chains award from UNESCO. He is also author of the books “Like Water Running Off My Back”, “Beautiful And Ugly Too”, and “It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop”. [via]
In Hebrew with English subtitles. Running time: 87 minutes. Rated: R (disturbing images and atrocities, brief nudity and sex)
One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari Folman about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images …
Pageant
Running time: 95 minutes. Not rated (mature themes)
What do a flight attendant, a landscape architect and a devoted father all have in common? In the fun and fascinating world of Pageant, it’s an unbridled fervor for performing, a commitment to entertainment excellence and a passion for evening gowns.
Taking us behind the glitz and glamour of the 34th annual Miss Gay America, filmmakers Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern focus on five female impersonators as they descend on Memphis, Tennessee to strut their stuff and compete against 45 other contestants. The amazing physical transformation of these men into glamorous women is a wonder to behold. No hormones or body enhancements are allowed, which means these au natural drag queens become beautiful the old-fashioned way: with duct tape and lots of makeup.
But it’s the film’s focus on the people under the mascara that makes Pageant truly resonate. Interviews with the contestants and their supportive friends and family provide moving insights and intriguing details about what motivates them. Soon the real-life drama of the competition takes over as we watch extravagant performances and frantic costume changes, wondering who will walk away with the coveted crown. More than an immensely engaging story about men in women’s clothing, Pageant is an inspirational story about the power of chasing your dreams and the beauty of being yourself. – BRENDAN PETERSON [via]
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on under Awards, Foreign Film | Comments are off for this article
From “Malooned” which was filmed in Kenya.
The Kenya Film Commission is hoping to encourage competition among actors and the key individuals involved in film and TV by organizing the first “Kenya Film & Television Awards” event scheduled to be held in Nairobi on January 14, 2009.
The Kenya Film & TV Awards is a premier event to celebrate and recognize excellence in production of local Kenyan movies and stars. It will become a massive platform for the arts and culture, serving a s forum for fostering a truly celebrity culture in the film industry. It will be a razzmatazz, red carpet glitzy, sassy affair in line with the Emmy and Oscar Awards and a first for Kenya. The Kenya Film Commission intends it to be the event of the year which many will talk about for a long time. [via]
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on under Foreign Film | Comments are off for this article
The sequel to “Red Cliff”, a popular Chinese war epic, will debut in China on Jan. 7, 15 days ahead of schedule.
Directed by John Woo, the cast features Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Zhang Fengyi.
The film revolves around the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 AD. It involved a famous military underdog victory as the 50,000-strong allied forces of southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan defeated 800,000 troops of the northern warlord Cao Cao. [via]
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on December 25, 2008 under Awards | Comments are off for this article
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association Board of Directors has chosen the official poster of “The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards.” Los Angeles artist Colin McGreal completed the poster in association with Famous Frames.
The poster will be distributed to the 1300 guests attending “The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards” on Sunday evening, January 11 at The Beverly Hilton.
“The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards” will take place Sunday, January 11, 2009 at The Beverly Hilton with a live telecast airing on NBC at 8 PM (EST). [via]
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on December 24, 2008 under New Release, Theatrical Release | Comments are off for this article
The Secret of the Grain
In Arabic and French, with English subtitles. Running time: 151 minutes. Not Rated.
At the French Mediterranean port of Sète, divorced father Slimane Beiji (Habib Boufares), a tired sixty year old, is about to be retrenched from his tiring shipyard job. What with that and his broken family situation, he feels a failure, sharing life with his mistress Lilia (Leila D’Issernio) and her daughter Rym (Hafsia Herzi). He ambitiously takes over a wrecked tug with the aim of setting up his own port-side restaurant, eagerly supported by the enthusiastic Rym, with his ex-wife Souad (Bouraouia Marzouk) doing the cooking – including her speciality, the fish couscous. Opening night, however, brings out the best and worst in all of them. [via]
Mother Courage and Her Children
Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes. This film is not rated.
In the summer of 2006, Meryl Streep took a time out from making movies, and she took on the role of a lifetime: the lead in Bertolt Brecht’s classic anti-war play Mother Courage and Her Children. And for the first time she allowed a camera crew to document her rehearsal process. Theater of War not only takes us back-stage with one of the greatest actresses of our time, it also takes us back in time, uncovering the story of Brecht’s flight from the Nazis, his years in exile, and his eventual return to Germany where he first staged Mother Courage. Along the way, Tony Award winning playwright Tony Kushner and others explore the terrifying theme of Brecht’s masterpiece: why does history repeat itself in an endless cycle of violence and warfare? [via]
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Quentin C. Aanenson, a fighter pilot and a subject of Ken Burns’ documentary “The War” and the producer of his own film a decade earlier, Aanenson died Sunday of cancer at his home in Bethesda, his son, Jerry said. He was 87. He wrote, filmed and narrated the documentary, “A Fighter Pilot’s Story,” which related his wartime experiences and was shown on public television around the country starting in 1994. Read more …
“The Black Candle”
everyday life.
