Tribeca 09: The Documentary Meet & Greet
- by Raphaela Neihausen, April 27, 2009
Sunday afternoon, the Tribeca Film Festival hosted a “Meet & Greet” at the Union Square Ballroom for journalists, filmmakers and other affiliates attending the festival. It was a great way to meet old and new friends in a relaxed setting.
The team behind SHADOW BILLIONAIRE - director Alexis Manya Spraic and producer Sasha Alpert - a documentary about the mysterious disappearance of the very wealthy DHL shareholder Larry L. Hillblom.
Director Liz Mermin (
Director Gabriel Noble in an animated conversation about his film 
Tribeca 09: The Nation honors THE FIXER
- by Raphaela Neihausen, April 26, 2009
On Sunday afternoon, The Nation Institute hosted a reception for THE FIXER: THE TAKING OF AJMAL NAQSHBANDI, following its screening at Tribeca and a panel discussion with director Ian Olds, film subject Christian Parenti, New Yorker writer George Packer, and former fixer Naqeeb Sherzad. The film does an excellent job shedding light on the process of war-time reporting. The reception was held fittingly at the Half King bar, known as a foreign correspondent hang-out. Hamilton Fish, head of the Nation Institute (and occasional documentary producer), presided over a crowd of journalists, filmmakers and human rights activists.
Director Ian Olds (whose film 
Filmmakers Laura Poitras (MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY) and Kristi Jacobson (TOOTS, which premiered at Tribeca 2006 ).
Thom Powers and Nancy Roth (producer of THE FIXER).
Tribeca 09: Racing Dreams
- by Raphaela Neihausen, April 26, 2009
Despite a cold slowing me down over the first few days (not the swine flu, I promise!), I finally hit my stride and caught a bunch of great docs at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Marshall Curry’s RACING DREAMS was a delightful surprise. I don’t think there is a subject I care less about than NASCAR racing, so I approached this film with a dose of skepticism. Yet from the moment the film started, the next 95 minutes raced by as I became swept up in the film’s characters. Curry’s film is about more than racing (which I admit I have a higher appreciation for after watching the film). He also captures the fleeting transition from childhood to the teenage years in all its awkward glory. He was joined by the film’s three subjects for the Q&A - who unanimously agreed that he did an excellent job showing what it was like for them. 
L to R: the film’s three protagonists Josh, Annabeth, and Brandon, who all compete for the World Karting Association’s national championship. When asked what they thought of New York - Josh was amazed there was no race track, Annabeth was struck by how different it was from the cows and fields of her hometown and Brandon said the cab drivers were crazy. 
Director Marshall Curry (whose previous film STREET FIGHT won the Tribeca Audience Award in 2005 and screened in
Dipping into cinematic history: Native Land
- by Thom Powers, April 23, 2009
Last week STF audiences were treated to a rare 1942 classic NATIVE LAND, directed by Leo Hurwitz and Paul Strand; narrated by Paul Robeson. New York Magazine highlighted NATIVE LAND as a critic’s pick, describing it as “an unabashed ode to organized labor, with moments of sheer cinematic poetry.” Photo of Tom Hurwitz (son of NATIVE LAND filmmaker Leo Hurwitz) and Manny Kirchheimer (former colleague of Leo) who joined us for the Q&A of this special screening.
Tom Hurwitz with his wife (on left) and STF regular - filmmaker Ruth Somalo (on right). 
We also had a mini-surprise birthday celebration for Ruth who turned yet another year younger at midnight. The scrumptious cake was bicycled to 99 Below by our very own Cathryne Czubek. 
Related Film/Screening:
Sneak preview of EVERY LITTLE STEP
- by Raphaela Neihausen, April 16, 2009
Earlier this week, I enjoyed a special sneak preview of EVERY LITTLE STEP at the Paris Theater. Although I saw this film last fall when it had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, there was something quite magical about seeing it again in New York. Sitting in the audience were many notable figures connected to the show - including the brother of Michael Bennett (who conceived and choreographed the original show), Bob Avian (original co-choreographer), John Breglio (producer), Donna McKechnie (original “Cassie”), Marvin Hamlisch (wrote the score), Baayork Lee (who created the role of Connie and served as Bennett’s assistant choreographer), Jessica Lee Goldyn (revival cast - Val), Deidre Goodwin (revival cast - Sheila), Yuka Takara (revival cast - Connie) and many others. During the Q&A, Bennett’s sibling thanked the filmmakers for “so lovingly conjuring the spirit of my brother.” John Breglio added that “the documentary memorializes the essence of what Michael would have wanted,” elaborating that “after we saw this film, we knew we had found the new theatrical version of A Chorus Line.”
Director James D. Stern with his brother Todd (recently named Special Envoy in Charge of Climate Change in the Obama administration)
Director Adam Del Deo with Donna McKechnie (the original “Cassie”)
L to R: The “three Connies” - the original Baayork Lee, and the two finalists in the film J. Elaine Marcos and Yuka Takara.
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Upcoming Screenings
Sep 20: THE HOUSE OF STEINBRENNER
by Barbara KoppleSTF pre-season MONDAY SPECIAL (Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale Fri. Sept. 17, subject to availability) Love them or hate them, ...
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Sep 28: MARWENCOL
by Jeff MalmbergSTF Fall Season Opening Night (Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale later in Sept.) STF kicks off its fall season with MARWENCOL, ...
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Oct 5: AMERICAN SPLENDOR
by Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini(Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale later in Sept.) STF pays tribute to Harvey Pekar, who recently died, with this special screening ...
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Oct 12: ON COAL RIVER
by Francine Cavanaugh & Adams WoodON COAL RIVER takes viewers on a gripping emotional journey into the Coal River Valley of West Virginia, where longtime local residents begin to uncover the toxic effects of America’s increased ...
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Oct 19: THE CANAL STREET MADAM
by Cameron YatesUntil an FBI bust upended her life, Jeanette Maier was a successful New Orleans madam. Her discreet clientele included a number of powerful, high-ranking politicians. The ensuing very public trial - ...
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Oct 26: TAKING ON THE KENNEDYS
by Joshua Seftel“A film that would be mistaken for a Robert Altman political satire if it weren’t absolutely and horribly true.” —USA TODAY When Kevin Vigilante took on Patrick Kennedy for a seat in the U.S. House ...
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Nov 2: WO AI NI MOMMY (I LOVE YOU MOMMY)
by Stephanie Wang-BrealIn presenting WO AI NI MOMMY with the Sterling Award for Best US Feature this past June, the jury at Silverdocs noted: “The film dives so deeply into its story that the filmmaker’s hands disappear. ...
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Nov 9: WAR DON DON
by Rebecca Richman CohenProfiled in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces in Independent Film as an “up-and-comer poised to shape the next generation of independent film”, Rebecca Richman Cohen won Special Jury at SXSW and the ...
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Nov 16: 12TH & DELAWARE
by Heidi Ewing & Rachel GradyHeidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the filmmaking team behind the 2006 Oscar-nominated doc JESUS CAMP, take us on another controversial journey with 12TH & DELAWARE. Description from Sundance 2010 ...
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Nov 23: MARLENE
by Maximilian SchellDirector Maximilian Schell got the reclusive Marlene Dietrich to agree to appear in this documentary only on the stipulation that she not be photographed as she looked today. Instead, we only hear ...
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Nov 30: SURVIVING HITLER: A LOVE STORY
by John-Keith WassonWinner of the Inspiration Award at the 2010 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival As a teenager in Nazi Germany, Jutta is shocked to discover she is Jewish. She joins the German resistance and meets ...
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