The film itself is a pure joy to behold: a classic cinema-verite capturing of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s building a 24-mile white fabric fence over the hills of California into the Pacific. This film is one in a larger series of Maysles’ documentaries on these artists’ various public exhibitions - the most recent of which was THE GATES in NY’s Central Park.

The sold-out theater stayed put to hear Maysles interviewed after the film.  Although I’ve heard him speak various time, I am always struck anew by his childlike enthusiasm and purity of purpose.  I find both of these traits infectious and inspiring.  Maysles began by noting that he is now 82 years old, yet he still has 10 or 12 projects that he is working on.  He also stressed how important it is to make films about the “good” of life and that well-executed cinema can sometimes bring you closer to the event than even being there.  For a more detailed summary of the Q&A, visit the Film Panel Notetaker’s blog here.

Below are pictures from the post-show reception at Alibil Lounge.  I confess that I had to leave the bar around midnight, but from what STF insiders report, Albert shut down the bar! Why am I not surprised?
(Photos courtesy of STF house photographer Joshua Z Weinstein)

Albert Maysles holding a captive audience at Alibi Lounge.

Director Nicole Opper (OFF AND RUNNING, opens at the IFC Center on Jan. 29) challenging STF passholder and filmmaker Yoni Brook (BRONX PRINCESS, A SON’S SACRIFICE) at arm-wrestling.

L to R: Director Kimberly Reed (PRODIGAL SONS) with STF passholders editor Anne Chechler (SISTERS IN RESISTANCE, BOUND BY PROMISES), filmmaker Emily Branham (BEBE DOCUMENTARY) and filmmaker Jonathan Goodman Levitt (SUNNY INTERVALS AND SHOWERS, FOLLOW THE LEADER).

More STF passholders: filmmakers Hemal Trivedi and Cathryne Czubeck, with director Ngawang Choephel (TIBET IN SONG, closing night film of STF Spring 09).

L to R: Film publicist Sylvia Savadjian, filmmaker Hugo Perez (NEITHER MEMORY NOR MAGIC, SUMMER SUN WINTER MOON) and blogger Brian Geldin (Film Panel Notetaker).

Filmmaker and Garrett Scott Grant Recipient Rebecca Richman Cohen (WAR DON DON) with Deidre Mask.

Architect Armand Graham, artist William Lamson (you may remember his work from STF’s WHOLPHIN night or his larger-than-life paper airplane that served as an STF trailer) and their friend Dan Barry.

Cinematographer Sam Henriques (NURSERY UNIVERSITY, THE GOOD SOLDIER) with director Larry Locke (ACCIDENTAL MAYOR, PIN GODS).

My dear friend all the way back from our college days, STF passholder Courtney Erwin (Chief of Staff and Director of Programs for the Cordoba Initiative) with moi.

STF passholder and filmmaker Hemal Trivedi outside the IFC Center (great street shot, Josh!).

A very camera-shy STF passholder Maya Corneille with a friend.

L to R: A lady whose name I didn’t catch, STF passholder and editor Jean Tsien (PLEASE VOTE FOR ME and next week’s STF film THE BIGGEST CHINESE RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD) with director Nicole Opper (OFF AND RUNNING).

Mr. and Mrs. Stranger comparing bumps.

Emily Doe & Brent Hoff, the duo behind Wholphin, give short films an elegant home in a quarterly dvd, with the backing of McSweeney’s. Their editorial eclecticism mixes fiction, non-fiction, animation and more. It’s a package you want to own, not just experience digitally. 

Amy Dotson, producer of programming at IFP, has an unenviable task of meeting filmmaker needs during a period of rapid change and dwindling support for non-profits. She brings a can-do attitude to the job. Sitting at the hub of New York’s independent film community, she has a broad view of the industry.

Ben Fowlie, founding director of the Camden Film Festival, has put a small town on the map of a crowded festival calendar. In order for film culture to flourish, we could use an organizer like Ben in every small town.

Steve Holmgren is the only person on this list I’ve not met in person. But I’m impressed by the reputation he’s made for the emerging Union Docs series in Brooklyn. As long as he doesn’t muscle into STF’s Tuesday night crowd, we’re cool.

Adella Ladjevardi, grants manager for Cinereach, is an able ambassador for the foundation headed by another young leader Philip Engelhorn. Her background working for for independent doc makers and for the distributor Icarus Films gives her a rounded understanding of all stages.

Mekado Murphy produces content for the New York Times on-line film page. His videos and interactive features give filmmakers a fresh opportunity to reach the paper’s influential audience. 

Raphaela Neihausen spent so many years as a management consultant, she thinks “Up in the Air” is a documentary. These days she applies her strategic growth plans to building Stranger Than Fiction as its Executive Director. Call this nepotistic or inside sourcing, but I can attest once she’s put her mind to something, there’s no stopping her.

Dana O’Keefe, the wunderkind sales agent at Cinetic Media, has a passion and intelligence that never quits. Dare to dissent on a film in his catalogue and he will overwhelm you with a torrent of persuasion, citing evidence from the history of cinema and western civilization. Is he a high-functioning meth addict or a genius?

Raymond Pathanvirangoon has a global reach as long as his name, thanks to his experience working in film sales at Fortissimo in Hong Kong and at festivals from Toronto to Rotterdam. For making crucial connections between east and west, Raymond is the man.

David Redmon & Ashley Sabin, founders of Carnivalesque Films, describe themselves as “rugged filmmakers lost in pursuit of their own irrational dreams.” Their distribution label handles other like-minded directors. Even if no one is getting rich off it, the label helps keep dreams alive.

Karina Rotenstein, from her days as the Miami Film Festival’s doc programmer to her current post at Hot Docs, has earned a fan club of filmmakers across the globe. Her omnivorous appetite for film-watching is matched by immense charm.

Rasha Salti, based in Beirut, brings a vital sense of humor to assessing the politics of the Middle East. She has supported filmmakers from that region as the Director of the Cinema East Festival held in New York City; and as an adviser to other festivals. Sometimes she champions experimental work that’s not my cup of tea, but I admire her patience and dedication for voices on the margin.

Dusty Smith describes his job at Roadside Attractions as “copier unjammer”; he’s also among the sharpest wits in distribution. His Facebook updates are a bright spot in any scroll. (A recent favorite: “I feel bad for Doris Kearns Goodwin’s husband. That chick never forgets anything!”). As a young cinephile, he once drove from Ohio to the Toronto Film Festival just to see a new Errol Morris film. Don’t underestimate the desperation to escape Ohio as a key to success.

Monika Wagenberg, dividing her time between Buenos Aires, New York City and points in-between, has been a crusader for Latin American cinema through her work at Cinema Tropical, the Miami Film Festival and other outlets. Along with my colleague Diana Sanchez who programs Spanish-language films for TIFF, she’s a key communicator between north and south.

David Wilson, along with his over-40 cohort Paul Sturtz, has turned the True/False Film Festival into a buzzworthy event - despite the odds of taking place in Columbia, MO in February. David’s only impediment to career ascension that I can think of are recent photos of him wearing Tom Selleck’s mustache.

Jessica Wolfson cut her teeth overseeing feature documentaries at IFC TV before producing her own works and now landing up at Bside. Her boss Chris Hyams was on Brian Newman’s list that got this all started, so we’ve come full circle.

VALENTINO SCREENING (Mon. Jan. 11):

VALENTINO Q&A with STF host Thom Powers, director Matt Tyrnauer and editor Bob Eisenhardt.  Photo credit: EJ/Bear.

Photographer/filmmaker Gwendolen Cates and former student of Thom’s NYU doc class Kiira Benzing.

Filmmakers AJ Schnack and Nathan Truesdell (CONVENTION) are in town for Friday’s Cinema Eye Honors

SNOWBLIND (Tues. Jan. 12): (Thanks to Joshua Z. Weinstein for some great photos!)

STF host Thom Powers with SNOWBLIND director Vikram Jayanti.

STF passholders editor Melissa Hacker, filmmaker Laura Minnear, Jennifer Samuel, and filmmaker Hemal Trivedi.

L to R: Nadia Sussman (student at CUNY Journalism), former NYU student of Thom’s - Cat Bright (straight from New Zealand!), and STF passholders editor Carla Ruff and filmmaker Jonathan Goodman Levitt.

STF passholders editor Cheree Dillon (OFF AND RUNNING) and DP Meg Kettel with filmmaker Robert Bahar (MADE IN LA, also founder of Doculink), STF ED Raphaela Neihausen and filmmaker Almudena Carracedo (MADE in LA)

L to R: Joanna Arnow, Jonah Bossewitch (who will be speaking on a panel at the upcoming Real Abilities film festival after the film CROOKED BEAUTY on Fri. Jan 29, 4pm), and Annie Berman (director of FAITHFUL).

CUNY Journalism professor Yoruba Richen (director of PROMISED LAND) brought her students to SNOWBLIND.