"VIEWFINDERS" AND "METROPOLIS" COMPETITIONS INCLUDE WORLD AND U.S. FILM PREMIERES; PLUS "KALEIDOSCOPE" FAMILY MATINEES; SEMINARS, PANELS, RETROSPECTIVES AND MORE
November 3-9, 2010 at the IFC Center and New York University
New York, NY – September 28, 2010 – DOC NYC will launch its first annual festival of documentary storytelling with Werner Herzog presenting his new 3-D film "Cave of Forgotten Dreams," which was recently acquired by IFC Films, for the Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, Nov 3; and Errol Morris presenting "Tabloid" for a Gala on Sunday, Nov 7. Morris will also be interviewed by the author Ron Rosenbaum for the wideranging "In Conversation" event on Nov 7. The filmmaker and historian Kevin Brownlow will receive a tribute showcasing a range of his films just a few days before he is to receive an honorary Oscar® from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The DOC NYC festival organizers today announced the first titles in a slate of over 40 films and events taking place at IFC Center and New York University venues on Nov 3-9, 2010.
"DOC NYC will be a must-attend event for people with a passion for great storytelling," said Artistic Director Thom Powers. "Not only will audiences see great work, they can also engage with the documentary community in person."
"Films which give voice to unique individuals and stories are vital to the arts community in New York City," says NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn. "I am thrilled that DOC NYC’s slate of films is emblematic of the diversity of our city." "There is no better location for the DOC NYC festival than New York City," said Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. "With endless storylines and dynamic locations, our city serves as the independent filmmaking capital of the U.S. DOC NYC provides a critical showcase for our rich talent."
Two competition sections will cover a wide range of new films, including several world premieres. The "Viewfinders" section will offer perspectives from around the world with 8 films, including titles such as "Armadillo" and "Pink Saris" that have won critical acclaim at major international festivals. The "Metropolis" section will concentrate on New York stories with 6 films, including works about musician David Byrne and theater director Richard Foreman. (Descriptions below). Both the "Viewfinders" and the "Metropolis" sections include awards for best film decided by juries of accomplished critics and journalists.
DOC NYC will host two all-day conferences: "Doc Convergence" on Nov. 5 will hold panels about how documentary film intersects with photography, writing, performance and radio; and "State of the Art" on Nov. 6 will gather documentary film directors, cinematographers, editors and others for dialogues on their crafts.
The "Kaleidoscope" section offers family matinees on the weekend of Nov. 6-7 featuring the 3-D nature film "Turtle: An Incredible Journey" and "Make Believe" about teen magicians, suitable for viewers young and old.
DOC NYC announced its Presenting Sponsors will be A&E IndieFilms, History Films and New York magazine, joining previously announced Presenting Partner New York University SCPS.
"DOC NYC is an important new festival that we’re proud to support," says New York magazine Publisher Larry Burstein. "Our audience at the magazine and online enjoys the richness of the city’s cultural life, and looks to us to be at the forefront of contemporaryculture."
DOC NYC was conceived by and is hosted by the IFC Center, itself one of the country’s most important presenters of documentaries, both for theatrical premieres and through the weekly "Stranger Than Fiction" series, launched in 2005 and now New York’s leading documentary showcase.
Festival passes and Opening Night Gala tickets are now on sale at docnyc.net and IFC Center box office. Individual tickets will go on sale on Oct 4, 2010.
Galas
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Werner Herzog) Opening Night – Werner Herzog gains exclusive access to film inside the Chauvet caves of southern France, capturing the oldest known pictorial creations of humankind in their astonishing natural setting. He puts 3-D technology to a profound use, taking us back in time over 30,000 years.
Tabloid (Errol Morris) – The director of The Thin Blue Line and the Academy Award®- winning The Fog of War tells the story of a former Miss Wyoming whose quest for one true love led her across the globe and onto the pages of tabloid newspapers.
Special Event
In Conversation: Errol Morris – Errol Morris changed audiences’ perceptions of documentary film with works such as The Thin Blue Line; Fast, Cheap & Out of Control; and the Academy Award-winning The Fog of War. In this live conversation, he discusses his career with Ron Rosenbaum, a longtime friend, author of The Shakespeare Wars and cultural columnist for Slate.
Tribute to Kevin Brownlow
Kevin Brownlow started out at the age of 18, pioneering the genre of the hybrid
documentary as the co-director of It Happened Here that imagined England controlled by the Nazis. He went on to become the preeminent historian of silent film, authoring books such as The Parade’s Gone By and War, the West, and the Wilderness and directing authoritative documentaries on Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Cecil B. DeMille, D.W.Griffith and many others. In this special tribute, DOC NYC is pleased to welcome Brownlow – a few days before he receives an honorary Oscar – for an extended conversation and presentation of highlights from his career.
Viewfinders Competition
Armadillo (Janus Metz) U.S. Premiere – Winner of Cannes Critics Week, Armadillo is a harrowing portrayal of the current conflict in Afghanistan. The film follows a contingent of Danish troops into the chaos of combat in a way that stirs debate over the rules of engagement.
The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan (Henry Corra) – During the Vietnam war, McKinley Nolan mysteriously disappeared – rumored to be either a traitor, captive or American operative. Now his family goes searching for answers.
Discoveries of a Marionette (Bjarte Morner Tveit) U.S. Premiere – Norwegian director Bjarte Morner Tveit draws upon a rich personal archive of 8 mm film left by his grandfather Alf, who was secretive about his experiences as a globe-trotting sailor.
Five Weddings and a Felony (Josh Freed) World Premiere – Director Josh Freed turns a Flip camera on his own relationships as a twentysomething. Peeling away neurosis and narcissism, the film is a compelling portrait of modern love.
Kati with an I (Robert Greene) World Premiere – Over the course of three tumultuous days, Kati – a teenage girl in Alabama – has to confront big life choices over love, family and her future. As Kati’s half-brother, director Robert Greene gains an intimacy that makes viewers feel part of the family.
Pink Saris (Kim Longinotto) – In northern India’s state of Uddar Pradesh, the crusading Sampat Pal Devi dispenses street justice like a self-appointed Judge Judy, leading the "Pink Gang" of female enforcers.
The Sound of Mumbai: A Musical (Sarah McCarthy) U.S. Premiere – For one emotional night, a group of children living in a slum in Mumbai, India, get a chance to experience a different world as they perform The Sound of Music with a classical orchestra.
Windfall (Laura Israel) – After wind turbines are proposed for installation in upstate New York, the community’s excitement turns to suspicion over what the project entails. This eye-opening story exposes the dark side of wind energy development and the potential for financial scams.
About Thom Powers, DOC NYC Artistic Director
Thom Powers is the creator and host of the acclaimed documentary series Stranger Than Fiction
that takes place at the IFC Center. Now in its 13th season, STF has earned an international
reputation and featured esteemed guests such as Jonathan Demme, Laurie Anderson, Albert
Maysles, and Barbara Kopple. Powers also serves as the documentary programmer for the
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) where he presented premieres of celebrated titles such
as "Capitalism: A Love Story," "Food, Inc," "Valentino: The Last Emperor," and "Encounters at the Edge of the World." He also curates TIFF’s Mavericks conversation series, where he has hosted discussions with President Jimmy Carter, Chris Rock, Matt Damon, Howard Zinn, and others. He has taught at New York University for 10 years and recently received an award for Teaching Excellence. He co-founded the Cinema Eye Honors – an annual award for documentary excellence – now in its fourth year.
About Raphaela Neihausen, DOC NYC Executive Director
Raphaela Neihausen is the executive director of Stranger Than Fiction and oversaw the creation
of its web site, media strategy and growth in season pass holders. Prior to STF, she worked for
seven years at Mercer Management Consulting (now Oliver Wyman), advising Fortune 100
companies on strategic growth. Neihausen also produced the documentary "Miss Gulag" (recipient of grants from the Ford Foundation and Sundance Documentary Fund) that premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and went on to be broadcast all over the world. She speaks six languages and holds a BSFS/MA from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
About John Vanco, DOC NYC Managing Director
Through his leadership roles in film distribution and exhibition over the last 15 years, John Vanco
has strived to connect great works of cinema with appreciative audiences. Greenwich Village’s IFC Center, led by Vanco since its 2005 opening, serves as a focal point for the independent film community. As one of the founders of Cowboy Pictures, Vanco led the distribution efforts on behalf of dozens of foreign language, documentary and American fiction features, including works by Lynne Ramsay, David Gordon Green, Catherine Breillat and Shohei Imamura. Cowboy also programmed an innovative film calendar at a Manhattan cinema and managed the theatrical libraries of Janus Films and Pennebaker/Hegedus films. Previously, Vanco served in various capacities at Miramax, New Yorker Films and Fine Line Features.
About IFC Center
IFC Center is a state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Opened in June 2005 following an extensive renovation of the historic Waverly Theater, the theater expanded from three screens to five in 2009. Bringing the very best in new foreign-language, American independent and documentary features to NYC audiences, IFC Center is also known for its innovative repertory series and festivals, showing short films before its regular features in the ongoing "Short Attention Span Cinema" program, and special events such as the guestprogrammed "Movie Nights" and frequent in-person appearances by filmmakers. The theater’s lobby concession stands feature a unique array of food and merchandise, from organic popcorn, locally-made vegan baked goods and David Lynch coffee to CineMetal t-shirts, books and a carefully curated selection of classic, foreign and independent films on DVD and Blu-Ray. IFC Center also offers a membership program that includes ticket and merchandise discounts, free members-only screenings and other rewards. For additional theater information, current and upcoming program details and more, visit www.ifccenter.com
About the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies
Established in 1934, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) is among
the several colleges and schools that comprise New York University, one of the largest private
research universities in the United States. NYU-SCPS offers 14 graduate degrees, undergraduate
degrees for both traditional-aged and adult students, and more than 100 certificates and 2,500
continuing education courses in key sectors where New York leads globally: Real Estate;
Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management; Global Affairs; Philanthropy; Communications
Media, Publishing, Design, and Digital Arts; Business, Marketing, and Finance; and the Liberal
and Applied Arts, among others. NYU-SCPS programs in Design, Digital Arts and Film
include professional certificates and intensives in such areas as filmmaking, video
production, documentary, editing, producing, and many others. For additional information,
visit www.scps.nyu.edu/film.