The Sundance Institute will always have a place close to my heart for their crucial grant to my first outing as a producer MISS GULAG. So when they throw a fundraiser, I’m not going miss it. Last night, they held their annual New York City gala at Roseland in the heart of Broadway’s theater district. They kindly offered a lower priced admission for the after party (and an extra discount to the STF email list) to make the event more accessible to the average indy filmmaker. The city’s documentary community was out in full force, as pictured here:
1) Well, okay, this isn’t a documentary maker standing next to me. It’s the brilliant comic actor Jack McBrayer who plays the NBC page Kenneth on 30 ROCK. I’m a recent convert to the show having binged on the DVDs of the first two seasons this month. McBrayer could not have been more sweet when I asked for this photo.
Last night at the IFC Center, director Astra Taylor unveiled her new documentary EXAMINED LIFE in a special screening for STF pass holders and invited guests at the IFC Center. The film portrays eight contemporary thinkers – including Cornel West, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Martha Nussbaum and Judith Butler – talking about their philosophies as they wander through the urban landscapes of New York, Toronto, Chicago and San Francisco.
The film will get a theatrical release in 2009. Pictured here L to R: ethicist Peter Singer who’s featured in the film delivering a memorable monologue in Times Square, along with STF host Thom Powers and Taylor.
STF regular Joshua Weinstein will be presenting his film FLYING ON ONE ENGINE at the Rubin Museum of Art (17th St & 7th Ave) this evening at 7pm. FLYING ON ONE ENGINE follows wheelchair-bound-aneurysm-stricken surgeon Dr. Dicksheet as he travels to India to perform free operations in marathon-like surgery sessions. Good luck tonight, Joshua!
There was a packed crowd of documentary enthusiasts at last night’s STF tribute to George Stoney. Among the audience were past collaborators of Stoney including Jim Brown and David Bagnall. Also attending were filmmakers Bill Jersey, George Nierenberg, Jean Tsien, Paul Cronin, Judith Helfand, David Grubin, Tina DiFeliciantonio, Jennifer Fox, among others.
Attached are some photos from the reception:
1) George Stoney with William Greaves (who was the subject of a career retrospective at the 2008 Full Frame Film Festival)
Two great films to satisfy your political cravings!
1) For those of you that missed ELECTION DAY when it played at STF last year, now is your chance to attend a FREE screening in a beautiful venue. ELECTION DAY will be playing as part of the Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturdays program and will include a Q&A with director Katy Chevigny.
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2008
Time: 6 pm screening (arrive by 5 pm to ensure tickets)
Where: Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY)
2) On election night itself, STF will be showing a special presentation of CHISHOLM 72, with director Shola Lynch in attendance. The film looks at the career of Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and her campaign to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in 1972. After the film we will head to a nearby bar and watch the election results roll in. Definitely a night to be with friends!
