New York, NY, December 22, 2009 – Stranger Than Fiction, the weekly documentary film series programmed by Thom Powers and presented by IFC Center, launches its twelfth season on January 12, 2010 with a sneak preview of SNOWBLIND (2009), including a Q&A with director Vikram Jayanti. The STF winter season takes place at the IFC Center every Tuesday night at 8:00 pm for ten weeks, through March 16. Each event includes a discussion with the filmmakers, followed by a gathering at the nearby bar 99 Below. The full season schedule appears below. For more information, visit http://STFdocs.com or ifccenter.com.
SNOWBLIND follows 23-year-old legally blind Rachael Scdoris as she competes in the Iditarod dogsled race across 1,100 miles of punishing Alaskan terrain. Jayanti’s past work includes acclaimed films on James Ellroy, Gary Kasparov and Phil Spector. This sneak preview represents one aim of the STF mission to present the most exciting new work in documentary. Another STF aim is to bring fresh attention to older work. A notable example is RUNNING FENCE (1978), co-directed by Albert Maysles, showing on Jan 19. The film looks at the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude (who recently died) as they undertake constructing an epic installation in California.
"Half the experience of STF is watching the films," said Artistic Director Thom Powers who also serves as the documentary programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival. "The other half is the conversations that take place afterward in the theater and at the bar." Additional highlights of the season include Dan Klores presenting his new film about an epic sports rivalry, WINNING TIME: REGGIE MILLER VS. THE NEW YORK KNICKS (2010); and "A Night with Ross McElwee" featuring the director of SHERMAN’S MARCH presenting a rare work.
Stranger Than Fiction: Spring 2009 Season
8:00pm Tuesdays at IFC Center, January 12 – March 16
Each show features a Q&A with the director or other special guests
JAN 5: Pre-Season Special – WHICH WAY HOME (2009, Q&A w/ dir. Rebecca Cammisa)
JAN 11: Pre-Season Special – VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR (2008, Q&A w/ dir Matt Tyrnauer & editor Bob Eisenhardt)
JAN 12: Opening Night – SNOWBLIND (2009, Q&A w/ dir. Vikram Jayanti)
JAN 19: RUNNING FENCE (1978, Q&A w/ co-dir. Albert Maysles)
JAN 26: THE BIGGEST CHINESE RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD (2008, Q&A w/ editor Jean Tsien)
FEB 2: A Night with Ross McElwee (Q&A w/ dir. Ross McElwee; film TBA)
FEB 9: STARTUP.COM (2001, Q&A w/ co-dir. Chris Hegedus)
FEB 16: THE ART OF THE STEAL (2009, Q&A w/ dir. Don Argott)
FEB 23: WINNING TIME: REGGIE MILLER VS. THE NEW YORK KNICKS (2010, Q&A w/ dir. Dan Klores)
MAR 2: A HEALTHY BABY GIRL (1997, Q&A w/ dir. Judith Helfand)
MAR 9: BEST OF ORPHANS FILM SYMPOSIUM (Q&A w/ curator Dan Streible)
MAR 16: Closing night – DAVID HOLZMAN’S DIARY (1967, Q&A w/ L.M. Kit Carson aka David Holzman)
Tickets for Stranger Than Fiction screenings are $16 for the general public and $13 for IFC Center members. A Season Pass, good for admission to all 10 evenings per season (plus additional specials), is available at an early bird rate through December 31, 2009 for $95 for the general public and $75 for IFC Center members; on January 1, 2010season passes are $110 for the general public and $85 for IFC Center members.