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).
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
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 March 29, 2009, the Cinema Eye Honors were presented at the Times Center in the New York Times building. Early in the show, co-host AJ Schnack took the stage with POV’s Yance Ford wearing outfits from the nominated film about Mobile’s Mardi Gras, ORDER OF MYTHS. Read more coverage of the Cinema Eye ceremony in NY Press, IFC News and Shooting People.
Co-hosts Thom Powers and AJ Schnack helpfully pose on either end so that photo editors can crop them out to focus on MAN ON WIRE’s Philippe Petit; Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed.
STF’s spring season kicks off with THE ENGLISH SURGEON. Posing after the Q&A: Thom Powers in his best English tweed (by way of a Vietnamese tailor); director Geoffrey Smith; and Henry Marsh, the surgeon who describes himself as a narcissist but comes off as an altruist – proving they’re not incompatible.
Read a full report of the film on the Britical blog, excerpted here:
After the film, Marsh gets up on stage for a brief Q & A. I want to ask him why, of all people, we see him in the film riding his bike without a helmet – but I decide this is a bit cheeky. Later, I chat with him in the bar, and, discovering that he trained the surgeon who treated my Mother, forget to enquire. I head home on the subway and remember something: he had admitted, unprompted, that surgeons are by necessity risk-takers, and, he laughed, “narcissists”. Maybe that’s the clue to the helmet thing. More importantly, though, his honest acknowledgement indicates a duality possessed by very few: the professional All Powerful God-in-a-white-coat half we know all too well. But in Henry Marsh we witness also that which is rare: a thing comprised of humility, empathy, responsibility. He clearly feels it is his duty as both a doctor and a human being to look an absolutely horrifying situation right in the face and not turn away. And after that, to just “get on with it”, to do whatever you can, however small, and however imperfectly, to make it better.
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).
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: 
I congratulate the 
On March 29, 2009, the 
Co-hosts Thom Powers and AJ Schnack helpfully pose on either end so that photo editors can crop them out to focus on MAN ON WIRE’s Philippe Petit; Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed.
STF’s spring season kicks off with THE ENGLISH SURGEON. Posing after the Q&A: Thom Powers in his best English tweed (by way of a Vietnamese tailor); director Geoffrey Smith; and Henry Marsh, the surgeon who describes himself as a narcissist but comes off as an altruist – proving they’re not incompatible.