A timely revisiting of AL FRANKEN: GOD SPOKE

• by Raphaela Neihausen, April 15, 2009

As Al Franken awaits a court verdict to determine his status as Minnesota’s senator, it was perfect timing to revisit the film AL FRANKEN: GOD SPOKE. Directors Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus joined us for a memorable screening of Franken’s transformation from no-holds-barred comedy to politics.  The screening proved extra timely since this week there were new developments in his journey to the senate.  For the latest on Franken’s career, visit http://www.alfranken.com/ and to read a full review of the STF screening, read Karina Longworth’s piece on SpoutBlog. (Photo L to R: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker and Nick Doob)

L to R: Editor Jill Woodward, international woman of mystery Ella, journalist Robyn Hillman and filmmaker Meredith Kaufman.

Josh Levin of Gallant Films showing some Michigan pride.

The STF regulars: filmmakers Ruth Somalo and Cathryne Czubek (I spelled your last name right!)

Deep in post-film conversation - filmmakers Andrew Berends, Chris Hegedus and Robin Hessman.

Trading stories on the couch - STF host Thom Powers and filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker.

The multi-talented IFC staff custom-design signs for each screening.

Related Film/Screening:
AL FRANKEN: GOD SPOKE by Chris Hegedus and Nick Doob

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STF loyalty begins in utero

• by Thom Powers, April 14, 2009

Congrats to our friends Nicole Barrett and James Stewart who attended the first two screenings of STF’s spring season in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Neither THE ENGLISH SURGEON nor NURSERY UNIVERSITY was able to shock Nicole into labor. But last Friday, she gave birth to infant Emily, the first known case of STF loyalty beginning in the womb. Wait a second, Nicole: I just realized your husband’s name is James Stewart. Now, that’s movie love.

  AFTER, Friday, April 10.

Kopple screens Tyson doc

• by Raphaela Neihausen, April 08, 2009

On April 7, Barbara Kopple made a special appearance at STF to screen her rarely seen documentary FALLEN CHAMP: THE UNTOLD STORY OF MIKE TYSON that originally appeared on NBC in 1993.  She was joined for the Q&A by her collaborators Richard Stratton, Bill Davis and Leon Gast (who visited STF last year with his film WHEN WE WERE KINGS).  This special screening brought out a number of prominent film journalists who were curious to screen this film in juxtaposition to James Toback’s forthcoming documentary TYSON (being released in theaters later this month). 

(Above photo courtesy of Steven Krasnopolsky)

Director Barbara Kopple with Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman and film critic Godfrey Cheshire.

L to R: Filmmakers with projects currently on the festival circuit - Mike Palmieri and Donal Mosher (OCTOBER COUNTRY), Tom Davis (NEW WORLD ORDER).

Two-time Oscar winner Rob Epstein (THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK, COMMON THREADS: STORIES FROM THE QUILT, THE CELLULOID CLOSET) who just wrapped shooting his latest film HOWL (starring James Franco).

A nearly identical photo was taken one year ago at the STF screening of Kopple’s MY GENERATION: Raphaela Neihausen, Barbara Kopple and Woodstock Film Festival co-founder and director Meira Blaustein.

Mom and daughter knock-out combo: Jess and Adrianne Ryan.

STF co-host Raphaela Neihausen and filmmaker Ruth Somalo.

Filmmaker/producer Diane with editor Jill Woodward.

Sesame Street’s very own Nancy Unsworth and her boyfriend, actor Chris Carmack.

STF passholder and filmmaker Andrew Yamato shares the news that he’s going to be a dad in November!

Related Film/Screening:
FALLEN CHAMP: THE UNTOLD STORY OF MIKE TYSON by Barbara Kopple

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Nursery University sneak preview

• by Raphaela Neihausen, April 08, 2009

STF passholders were treated to a special bonus screening of NURSERY UNVERSITY on Mon. April 6. In the Q&A, filmmakers Marc Simon and Matthew Makar shared the challenges of dealing with hyper-cautious New York nurseries and protective parents.  The film opens in theaters on April 24.  For more information see: www.nurseryuniversitythemoview.com

Host Thom Powers with filmmakers Matthew Makar (R) and Marc Simon. 

Radiant mother-to-be Nicole Barrett (she was due one week ago at THE ENGLISH SURGEON premiere) and her very attentive husband.

Related Film/Screening:
NURSERY UNIVERSITY by Marc Simon

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12 PICS CELEBRATING FULL FRAME’S 12TH YEAR

• by Thom Powers, April 07, 2009

I congratulate the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival on its successful 12th edition held this past weekend in Durham, NC. This year marks the first for Sadie Tillery (pictured with me) as the new Director of Programming. Her team faced multiple challenges ranging from the dismal economy to college basketball distracting local audiences. Despite those hazards, the theaters were full - even for the Sunday morning show of the Slovak doc BLIND LOVES, paired with the magnificent Danish short 12 NOTES DOWN (winner of Full Frame’s short prize). Basil Tsiokos has a full report on IndieWire.

Twelve years ago, when Full Frame was founded by Nancy Buirski, the idea of championing documentaries was still novel in North America. Hot Docs was only a few years old. Since then, the field has grown a lot more crowded with the rise of True/False, SXSW, Tribeca, LAFF, and Silverdocs. Yet Full Frame still provides a unique experience. For filmmakers who tend to dwell in coastal cities, the fest gives them a rare chance to connect with southern audiences (and a taste of authentic pulled pork bbq). The pleasant spring weather and close proximity of theaters create ideal conditions for meeting fellow doc lovers. The democratic atmosphere allows students to mingle among legends like D.A. Pennebaker and Barbara Kopple. 

On Saturday night, the Final Four basketball game featuring local favorites UNC didn’t prevent the spacious Fletcher Hall from selling out for “The September Issue.” The screening featured a Q&A with Vogue magazine’s Grace Coddington and Andre Leon Talley who appear in the film alongside their infamous boss Anna Wintour. Afterwards, A&E Indie Films threw a party where the film’s director RJ Cutler and executive producer Molly Thompson smiled for our camera.

  Full Frame strikes a fine balance of representing documentary past, present and future. In treating documentary past, the fest programmed two sidebars of retrospective material. Steve James, best known as the director of HOOP DREAMS, curated a selection of films on “This Sporting Life” that showcased both fiction films such as SLAP SHOT and non-fiction titles such as FALLEN CHAMP: THE UNTOLD STORY OF MIKE TYSON. James is pictured here with director Barbara Kopple discussing FALLEN CHAMP.

Another sidebar, curated by filmmaker Sam Pollard, paid tribute to St. Clair Bourne, who passed away in late 2007. Among the titles programmed by Pollard was A TIME FOR BURNING which was an inspiration to Bourne. Presenting the film was its director Bill Jersey (pictured), who can been frequently seen in the audience at STF.

Another example of looking to the past was a free screening of HOOP DREAMS, now celebrating its 15th anniversary. One of the film’s main characters William Gates poses here with co-director Peter Gilbert, as they lift Arturo Cabanas, the director of the short MAN UP.

Moving to the present, the fest opened with the world premiere of SONS OF CUBA about young Cubans training to be boxers. Pictured here are the film’s director Andrew Lang (right) and editor Simon Rose. Other Full Frame world premieres included THE VISITORS, about people visiting inmates in US prisons; SWEET CRUDE, about the oil economy in Nigeria; SALONICA, about a decimated Jewish community in Greece; and OWNING THE WEATHER, about attempts at weather control.

Staying in the present, here’s director Gary Hustwit who screened OBJECTIFIED, the follow up to HELVETICA. Gary told me that he’s about to embark on a tour of 50 cities (including the IFC Center in New York) over the next 90 days for the film’s theatrical launch. On Saturday night in Durham, he hosted an after-party where he dramatically laid down his credit card to cover the 50 or so revelers. Two hours later, he received the bill for a meager $192. At those prices, every film should sponsor a party in Durham.

  Hanging out in the hospitality suite, pictured right to left, are FOOD, INC director Robert Kenner; REPORTER producer Mikeala Beardsley; and writer Robyn Hillman-Harrigan who covered Kenner’s film for The Brooklyn Socialite blog.

Looking ahead to documentary future, I was pleased to host the third installment of the Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant with my fellow jurors Ian Olds (director of THE FIXER, soon to premiere at Tribeca) and Rachael Rakes (programmer for a new film series in Brooklyn). The three of us started the grant in honor of our dear friend Garrett, who made two terrific films CUL DE SAC: A SUBURBAN WAR STORY and OCCUPATION: DREAMLAND before his untimely death in 2006. Each year, we pick 2 or 3 emerging directors working on their first film and bring them to Full Frame to meet with mentors. This year’s mentors included Robert Kenner, Gary Hustwit, Laura Poitras, Nancy Abraham, Robert West and others. Full Frame devoted a slot to screen 10-minute work samples by the grant recipients Cameron Yates (THE CANAL STREET MADAM) and Elyinisia Mosha (whose project is untitled). Pictured from L to R: Olds, Powers, Mosha, Rakes, Yates.

  The weekend in Durham was blessed with beautiful weather in the low 70s that made it possible to conduct one of our Garrett Scott mentoring meetings outdoors with Barbara Kopple and Peter Gilbert.

  On the future of film criticism, I hosted a panel with Indiewire editor Eugene Hernandez and Variety critic Ronnie Scheib that developed the ideas from my essay WANTED: DOCUMENTARY CRITICS. You’ll find an excellent summary of the discussion on the Durham blog Indy Week.

At the A&E Indie Films party, three filmmakers who have worked in Africa. L to R: Andrew Berends, who appeared on Full Frame’s panel “Working in Conflict” discussing his experiences in Nigeria and Iraq; Elyinisia Mosha, who screened clips from her untitled work-in-progress at the Garrett Scott grant presentation; and Chai Vasarhelyi who screened I BRING WHAT I LOVE: YOUSSOU NDOUR.

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