Albert Maysles’ visits STF with RUNNING FENCE
- by Raphaela Neihausen, January 21, 2010
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Although I always enjoy STF greatly, once in a while there are evenings that are tinged with some additional inspiration and magic. That’s how I would describe last Tuesday’s screening of RUNNING FENCE (1978). Co-presented with the Maysles Cinema, the evening began with a moving intro by STF curator Thom Powers who mentioned that RUNNING FENCE was extra poignant to him now that two of its central people had passed away: David Maysles (Albert’s brother and collaborator) and Jeanne-Claude (Cristo’s partner and collaborator). He also pointed out that the Eagles’ song “Take It To The Limit” which features prominently in RUNNING FENCE was played at David’s memorial service in 1987 - with not a dry eye in the entire room.
STF announces new details for Ross McElwee, THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE and THE COVE
- by Thom Powers, January 18, 2010
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Recent winners at the Cinema Eye Honors, THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (Audience Prize) and THE COVE (Best Feature, Cinematography, Production) have been added to the STF winter season for February. Director R.J. Cutler and Vogue creative director Grace Coddington will take part in a Q&A for THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE on Wednesday, Feb 3; and director Louis Psihoyos will appear for THE COVE on Monday, Feb 8.
In other news, STF has announced titles for the Tuesday, Feb 2 event “A Night with Ross McElwee.” The director of SHERMAN’S MARCH, who was honored last week with the Cinema Eye Legacy Award, will present two early short works CHARLEEN (1977) and BACKYARD (1984). The double bill runs roughly 1 hour 20 minutes, followed by a Q&A with McElwee.
20 Under 40: Film Industry Talent to Watch
- by Thom Powers, January 17, 2010
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Brian Newman recently posted a blog listing 20 film leaders under the age of 40. That inspired me to make my own list, excluding those already on Brian’s and focusing on jobs other than filmmaking – curators, distributors, archivists, etc.
My list is entirely off the top of my head without other input. That influences why half the people are based in New York City; and why the group tilts heavily, though not exclusively, to documentary. Brian lamented not including more people from outside North America. I sympathize as my international contacts tend to be older than 40, but I did manage a smattering of overseas representation. I encourage list-makers based elsewhere to celebrate their own local talent. Readers should feel free to add names and comments to this post.
Here are my 20 to watch. Years from now when they hold positions of power, I hope they give me a job:
Snowden Becker, one of the founders of Home Movie Day, impressed me greatly when I first interviewed her at the Association of Moving Image Archivists conference six years ago. She and her Home Movie Day crew opened a new way for the public to understand film preservation: not just as Hollywood history, but as your family history. I look forward to the day when she runs the Library of Congress.
Laura Coxson of Maysles Films is among a group of young people who have infused new life into the venerable production company after its move to Harlem. Veteran filmmakers take heed from the Maysles example: if you want to ensure your company’s future, you need to train the next generation.
Hussain Currimbhoy, programmer for the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival, has proven to be an indefatigable seeker, supporter and host for filmmakers. He’s been as a key asset in helping Heather Croall to build Sheffield into a worthy fall destination.
Matt Dentler is almost too well established to be on a list of fresh talent. In his twenties, he elevated the profile of the SXSW Film Festival, adding to the prominence of Austin, Texas as a center of taste-making. Now at Cinetic Film Buff, he’s leading the charge into the unknown terrain of digital distribution. Whichever way that goes, we’ll all benefit from the lessons he learns.
Read more »Cinema Eye Honors 2010
- by Thom Powers, January 16, 2010
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Cinema Eye Honors pulled off its third annual event celebrating documentary craft and innovation in multiple categories. The ceremony, held at the auditorium in the New York Times building, was co-hosted by AJ Schnack and Esther Robinson and featured an array of doc luminaries as presenters including Barbara Kopple, Albert Maysles and Peter Davis. The night’s big winners were THE COVE (Best Feature, Cinematography, Production), Agnes Varda (Best Director), THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (Audience Award), and OCTOBER COUNTRY (Best Debut, Composer). See Indiewire for the full list of winners.
After the ceremony, the party moved down 41st Street to the Arena nightclub. Pictured on top are presenters Carl Deal and Tia Lessin (TROUBLE THE WATER), flanking Peter Davis (HEARTS & MINDS) with Amir Bar-Lev (THE TILLMAN STORY) on right.
Read more »STF kicks off Winter Season
- by Raphaela Neihausen, January 15, 2010
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So what if you’re not going to Sundance. You can meet great filmmakers in person all winter long at STF. The year kicked off with pre-season events featuring docs on the Oscar shortlist, WHICH WAY HOME and VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR. Last Tuesday, the STF Winter Season officially got started with the opening night presentation of SNOWBLIND, featuring a Q&A with director Vikram Jayanti. SNOWBLIND was the last film to be funded by Discovery Films that produced MAN ON WIRE and ENCOUNTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD before closing down. As a result of the division’s closure, SNOWBLIND has been left orphaned for distribution. Jayanti told the STF audience that the screening boosted his morale.
On Jan 19, STF is proud to welcome Albert Maysles to present one of his most memorable collaborations with the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, RUNNING FENCE. There are two more special bonus winter screenings that will be announced next week. That means if you buy a season pass now, you can get 11 shows for just $110.
Below are some fun photos from earlier this week - (click “read more”)
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Upcoming Screenings
Mar 16: DAVID HOLZMAN’S DIARY
by Jim McBrideThis landmark work blending fiction and reality made a deep impression on the 1970s generation of filmmakers. STF is pleased to show this rare big screen appearance, accompanied by a Q&A with the ...
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Apr 6: AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE
by Steven SoderberghAND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE provides an intimate portrait of master monologist Spalding Gray, as described by his most critical, irreverent and insightful biographer: Spalding Gray. Director Steven ...
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Apr 13: HORSES
by Liz MerminAn unusual, beautifully detailed documentary following a year in the lives of three charismatic Irish racehorses. Ireland’s horse-racing culture has produced some of the finest athletes in the ...
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Apr 14: FAMILY AFFAIR
by Chico ColvardWednesday Night Special Description from Sundance catalogue: At 10 years old, Chico Colvard shot his older sister in the leg. This seemingly random act detonated a chain reaction that exposed ...
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Apr 20: THE KIDS GROW UP
by Doug BlockIn his previous documentary, the internationally acclaimed 51 BIRCH STREET, Doug Block looked at his parents’ seemingly ordinary marriage and uncovered a universal story about an archetypal, ...
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Apr 27: CLEANFLIX
by Andrew James and Joshua LigairiDescription from Toronto International Film Festival catalogue: Mormons can be movie lovers too. The problem is that their religious leaders strongly discourage R-rated content. As one Mormon ...
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May 4: PIN GODS
by Larry LockeInspired by the record breaking accomplishments of Walter Ray Williams, Jr., the reigning professional bowler of the year, three newcomers set out to chase their own dreams of pro bowling greatness. ...
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May 11: LIFE 2.0
by Jason Spingarn-KoffDescription from Sundance catalogue: Every day, across all corners of the globe, hundreds of thousands of users log onto Second Life, a virtual online world not entirely unlike our own. They enter ...
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May 18: MY PERESTROIKA
by Robin HessmanDescription from Sundance catalogue: The Bolshevik revolution, the cold war, and the collapse of the Soviet Union defined the history of the twentieth century. With such a past, what does it mean ...
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May 25: MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA
by Dziga VertovSoviet director Dziga Vertov’s experimental film grew out of his belief, shared by his editor, Elizaveta Svilova (who was also his wife), and his cinematographer, Mikhail Kaufman (also his brother), ...
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Jun 1: HAYNESVILLE
by Gregory KallenbergHAYNESVILLE: A Nation’s Hunt for Energy takes place in the Louisiana backwoods, and follows the momentous discovery of the largest natural gas field in the United States (and maybe the world). The ...
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Jun 8: CLOSING NIGHT FILM: TBA
by ...
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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
Albert Maysles holding a captive audience at Alibi Lounge.
Director Nicole Opper (OFF AND RUNNING, opens at the
L to R: Director Kimberly Reed (PRODIGAL SONS) with
More STF passholders: filmmakers Hemal Trivedi and Cathryne Czubeck, with director Ngawang Choephel (
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.
Cinematographer Sam Henriques (
My dear friend all the way back from our college days, STF passholder Courtney Erwin (Chief of Staff and Director of Programs for the
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 (
Mr. and Mrs. Stranger comparing bumps.
Related Film/Screening:
VALENTINO Q&A with STF host Thom Powers, director Matt Tyrnauer and editor Bob Eisenhardt. Photo credit: EJ/Bear.
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 (
L to R: Joanna Arnow, Jonah Bossewitch (who will be speaking on a panel at the upcoming Real Abilities film festival after the film
CUNY Journalism professor Yoruba Richen (director of
Related Film/Screening: 

