[Melissa Hibbard follows her first Sundance report with this new post filed on January 24]
First of all, congratulations to Thom and Raphaela on the birth of their son, Bez.
With the snow still piling up all over town, I woke up early and stood in the wait list line to see SPACE TOURISTS, a science fiction-esque documentary directed by Christian Frei. The film, which explores the impact of space tourism on the heavens and the earth, seemed very much like a homage to the great Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. It’s beautiful images, moody dialogue and slow paced editing transports the viewer to the uncomfortable spaces of the old Soviet Union where space tourist are funding the continued exploration of the stars. It’s the kind of film I love to watch: sparse dialogue, stunning landscapes, and a gorgeous soundtrack composed by Jan Garbarek , Steve Teich and Edward Artemyev (who was the composer on some of Takovsky’s more sci-fi films including Stalker and Solaris) For the Q and A, Frei was there along with the protagonist of the film, Anousheh Ansari [pictured], the first woman space tourist who paid more that 20 million dollars to make her childhood dream of going to space a reality. Most of the questions were directed to Ansari who answered questions ranging from “What were the after effects on your body?” to “Was it really worth that much money?” I loved Ansari’s reply: “How do you put a price tag on a dream.”
While much of the documentary world was distracted by the Sundance Film Festival, Stranger Than Fiction stealthily announced the new talent acquisition of Bez Powers Neihausen, a manchild born on Jan 23, 2010 at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. The deal was handled by STF executive director Raphaela Neihausen in a negotiation that began at 5:30 am and was concluded at 3:55 pm.
“Bez demonstrates that the year’s best discoveries aren’t necessarily happening in Park City,” said STF artistic director Thom Powers, who fathered the deal.
The infant is named after Raphaela’s paternal grandfather Bezalel Neihausen.
“We’ve been strategizing on this acquisition for a long time,” said Powers, “and Raphaela was nothing short of heroic in the final push to get it completed.” During the intense negotiations, she was heard to make profuse and uncharacteristic use of profanity. She shocked onlookers by declining drugs. “I guess THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN made an impression on her,” said Powers.
[STF is pleased to have passholder Melissa Hibbard pounding the slushy pavement in Park City to bring back eyewitness news. Here is her first report filed on January 23.]
Last year I had a film at Sundance in the World Documentary Competition, THE GLASS HOUSE. I have to say it was fantastic, one of the best festival experiences of my filmmaking career. I am excited to be back, this year on behalf of Stranger than Fiction, one of my all time favorite screening venues.
First on my list, HIS AND HERS by director Ken Wardrop [pictured]. This beautiful cinematic mosaic tells a love story through the collective voice of 76 ladies from birth until the end of her life. There’s an innocence and simplicity in the storytelling that leaves a smile on your face as the credits roll. During the Q and A, Ken who charmed his audience – especially the ladies – with his boyish charisma, said that his own mother was the inspiration for making the film. And while he went on to say that this is the story of Irish women, I think most people in the audience agreed that this was a universal story of women and their relationships to the men in their lives: father boyfriends, husbands and sons.
Then I made my way to SECRETS OF THE TRIBE by José Padilha [known for his film BUS 174]. This well-crafted investigative documentary puts the entire field of anthropology under fire regarding the scandalous investigation into the research on Yanomami Indians in the Venezuelan rain forest during the 1960s and ’70s. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a documentary about anthropologists, but I have to say, Padilha delivered. With every passing minute the story gets weirder and weirder, ranging from bitter academics attacking each other to accusations of pedophilia to top-secret government biological experiments. Padilha didn’t make it to Sundance but producer Mike Chamberlain did. (It was his birthday and the audience broke out in an impromptu “Happy Birthday” – got to love Sundance audiences.) He brought with him three of the anthropologists for the Q and A to answer questions, but the story is so twisted that I think audiences left the theater asking, “What the…?”
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.
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.
[Melissa Hibbard follows her first Sundance report with this new post filed on January 24]
While much of the documentary world was distracted by the Sundance Film Festival, Stranger Than Fiction stealthily announced the new talent acquisition of Bez Powers Neihausen, a manchild born on Jan 23, 2010 at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. The deal was handled by STF executive director Raphaela Neihausen in a negotiation that began at 5:30 am and was concluded at 3:55 pm.
[STF is pleased to have passholder 
Recent winners at the 
Brian Newman recently