SILVERDOCS Announces Festival Slate
SILVERDOCS announced its full slate of films for the Festival taking place June 16-23, 2008 in the Washington, DC area. SILVERDOCS 2008 will present 108 films representing 63 countries selected from 1,861 submissions with six World, eight North American, six US and seven East Coast Premieres and two retrospective programs. Now in its sixth year, SILVERDOCS and its concurrent International Documentary Conference honors excellence in filmmaking, supports the diverse voices and free expression of independent storytellers and celebrates the power of documentary to enhance our understanding of the world.
For the full press release, click here.
Films screen in six sections: US Feature Competition, World Feature Competition (added this year), Best Music Documentary, Silver Spectrum (formerly World View), Short Films, and “1968 and Beyond”, a special thematic side-bar for 2008.
SILVERDOCS encompasses the five day International Documentary Conference which provides fresh perspectives on craft, funding, distribution and audience engagement; this year’s program explores the documentary in action, and has a particular emphasis on youth, education and next generation media artists. Sheila C. Johnson, CEO Salamander Hospitality, President WNBA’s Washington Mystics, philanthropist and executive producer of the documentary A POWERFUL NOISE will be among this year’s featured speakers. Over 1,200 filmmakers and industry professionals will participate, joining 20,000 audience members to screen highly anticipated films from some of the world’s leading documentarians.
Notable filmmakers presenting their work this year include SILVERDOCS’ Charles Guggenheim Symposium Honoree, the renowned Spike Lee (WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS; 4 LITTLE GIRLS; and WE WUZ ROBBED); Alex Gibney (GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON), Nanette Burstein (AMERICAN TEEN); Ellen Kuras (THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON)); Al Maysles (GIMME SHELTER, WHAT’S HAPPENING! THE BEATLES IN THE U.S.A); Guy Maddin (MY WINNIPEG); and Patrick Creadon (I.O.U.S.A.).
SILVERDOCS 2008
SCHEDULE OF SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND EVENTS
Monday, June 16, 2008
- OPENING NIGHT: ALL TOGETHER NOW, Adrian Wills’ faithful behind-the-scenes story of the unprecedented partnership between The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil, explores the making of the “LOVE” stage production at the Mirage in Las Vegas. The film captures the collaborations of Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté, LOVE director Dominique Champagne and producers Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin as they create an homage to the vision and music of The Beatles. Director Adrian Wills is scheduled to attend along with other special guests.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
- Special Programs include a performance by Béla Fleck following the screening of THROW DOWN YOUR HEART directed by Sascha Paladino. The American banjo virtuoso travels to Africa to explore the little-known roots of the instrument and record an album. Fleck’s riveting journey takes him through Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali, where he transcends the barriers of language and culture through a shared passion for music.
- Panel discussion with General Wesley Clark, retired four-star general who commanded Operation Allied Force during the Kosovo War when he was Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO following MILOSEVIC ON TRIAL directed by Michael Christofferson. When former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic was on trial for crimes against humanity, he acted as his own counsel; his most masterful move in the trial was when he died from a heart attack.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
- James Orbinski, 1999 Nobel Peace Prize winner on behalf of Doctors Without Borders will participate in a discussion of the film TRIAGE: DR. JAMES ORBINSKI’S HUMANITARIAN DILEMMA directed by Patrick Reed. When most fled Rwanda, Dr. James Orbinski flew in. TRIAGE is a deeply personal film about the man at the center of the imperfect system that our world has devised to care for victims of our political failures.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
- The Charles Guggenheim Symposium honors the legacy of the late four-time Academy Award winning filmmaker, Charles Guggenheim. This year the Symposium celebrates Spike Lee, for his body of documentary work including: WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS (2006); 4 LITTLE GIRLS (1997); and WE WUZ ROBBED (2000). Denver Post film critic Lisa Kennedy will interview Lee following a series of clips from his work.
Friday, June 20, 2008
- Herb and Dorothy Vogel in attendance to see the world premiere of HERB & DOROTHY directed by Megumi Sasaki. He was a postal clerk. She was a librarian. Despite their modest means, the unassuming pair are the most important contemporary art collectors you've never heard of. Meet Herbert and Dorothy Vogel, whose shared passion and discipline defied stereotypes and redefined what it means to be a patron of the arts.
- Claire Sardina, AKA “Thunder” from the Neil Diamond tribute couple “Lightning & Thunder” will perform following the screening of SONG SUNG BLUE directed by Greg Kohs. The film follows the sequined couple from their gigs in Milwaukee bars and clubs to a freak accident which leaves Claire immobile and replaces their Vegas dreams with the reality of rehabilitation, unpaid bills, drug addiction and lost hopes.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
- CLOSING NIGHT: THEATER OF WAR, directed by John Walter (HOW TO DRAW A BUNNY), a mesmerising examination of the intersection of art and politics at the creation of The Public Theater’s 2006 outdoor performance of Bertolt Brecht’s anti-war play Mother Courage and Her Children. The play, directed by The Public Theater’s George C. Wolfe from a new translation by Tony Kushner features Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline. THEATER OF WAR offers an intimate glimpse into the creative process and offers a raw and powerful exploration of war and capitalism. Director John Walter is scheduled to attend. Special guests to be announced.
- A ball can change your life. That’s the moral behind KICKING IT directed by Susan Koch, which follows teams from six nations as they prepare for and compete in the 2006 Homeless World Cup. The film raises awareness of the 1 billion homeless people worldwide with a unique sense of purpose and a vision of dignity regained by team sports. Stick around after the film for a scrimmage with featured film subjects and DC team members vying to represent the US at the next Homeless World Cup.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
- Some of the hottest films on the 2008 Festival circuit are scheduled to play on Sunday: MAN ON WIRE, ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD, STRANDED, and ORDER OF MYTHS as well as engaging sports films such as HOLYLAND HARDBALL, and SYNC OR SWIM—most filmmakers scheduled to attend.
Monday, June 23, 2008
- Filmmaker Charles Guggenheim’s 1964 and 1968 campaign films and TV spots for Robert Kennedy remain influential for both their effectiveness and authentic approach to political storytelling. ROBERT KENNEDY REMEMBERED was made following his tragic death in June in time for the Democratic Convention in August of ’68. It captures the best of the prior films, and the essence of a man who captured the hopes of a generation and continues to inspire with his message of hope and commitment to social justice. The panel will feature AFI’s Founding Director, George Stevens, Jr., celebrated journalists Frank Mankiewicz, filmmaker Grace Guggenehim and others.
SILVER SPECTRUM
AMERICAN TEEN
THE BETRAYAL
BI THE WAY
BIRD’S NEST: HERZOG AND DE MEURON IN CHINA
DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER
DOCU-CLUB “IN THE WORKS” presents STAGES
DUST
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD
FOOTBALL UNDER COVER
FORBIDDEN LIE$
GOING ON 13
GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON
HOLY LAND HARDBALL
I.O.U.S.A.
JOURNEY OF A RED FRIDGE
KALINOVSKI SQUARE
KICKING IT
LETTER TO ANNA
LOST HOLIDAY
LUCIO
MAN ON WIRE
MY MOTHER’S GARDEN
MY WINNIPEG
ON THE WAY TO PARADISE
ORDER OF MYTHS
PINDORAMA: THE TRUE STORY OF THE SEVEN DWARVES
A POWERFUL NOISE
SEAVIEW
STRANDED: I’VE COME FROM A PLANE THAT CRASHED ON THE MOUNTAINS
SYNC OR SWIM
THE THIRD COAST INTERNATIONAL AUDIO FESTIVAL
THIS WAY UP
TRIAGE: DR. JAMES ORBINSKI’S HUMANITARIAN DILEMMA
UNDER OUR SKIN
UP THE YANGTZE
WAR CHILD
YIDISHE MAME
1968 AND BEYOND
GIMME SHELTER
GENERATION 68
IN THE YEAR OF THE PIG
LAW AND ORDER
ROBERT KENNEDY REMEMBERED
SHORTS
52 PERCENT
THE APOLOGY LINE
THE ART OF KARAOKE
BEGINNING FILMMAKING
BOB’S KNEE
BREADMAKERS
THE CHAMP
CITY OF CRANES
FAREWELL PACKETS OF TEN
THE FIRST DAY
GENTLE CREATURES
GROUND FLOOR RIGHT
HOW TO SAVE A FISH FROM DROWNING
IF IT HAPPENS
KICK LIKE A GIRL
KIDS + MONEY
THE LADIES
LEAVE YOUR MIRACLE HERE
LEFT IN BAGHDAD
NOT SACKS
ONE DAY
PETER AND BEN
ROZ (AND JOSHUA)
SCORING
SELF-PORTRAIT WITH COWS GOING HOME AND OTHER WORKS: A PORTRAIT OF SYLVIA PLACHY
SHIKASHIKA
SMILE PINKI
THE TAILOR
TONGZHI IN LOVE
VIRTUAL FREEDOM (PODLOVE)
WHAT WOULD THE DROP KNOW ABOUT THAT?
YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM ALLAH
YOUNG ARABS
RETROSPECTIVES
AN AMERICAN FAMILY Series
FOUR LITTLE GIRLS
WE WUZ ROBBED
WHAT’S HAPPENING! THE BEATLES IN THE U.S.A. (OUTDOOR SCREENING)
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS
STERLING US, STERLING WORLD, AND MUSIC DOCUMENTARY AWARD COMPETITION
During the Festival select films will compete for the Sterling US Feature Award; Sterling World Feature Award; Sterling Short Award, Music Documentary Award; Witness Award; Cinematic Vision Award and the SILVERDOCS/American Film Market Award. Winners will be announced at the SILVERDOCS Award presentation on Saturday June 21, 2008. All films are also eligible for Audience Awards for Best Feature and Short, which will be announced on Sunday, June 22, 2008. As previously released, the following films will be in competition:
US FEATURE COMPETITION
BULLETPROOF SALESMAN
CHEVOLUTION
FOUR SEASONS LODGE
THE GARDEN
HARD TIMES AT DOUGLASS HIGH
HERB & DOROTHY
IN THE FAMILY
KASSIM THE DREAM
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL
TROUBLE THE WATER
WORLD FEATURE COMPETITION
COMEBACK
CORRIDOR #8
THE ENGLISH SURGEON
FOUR WIVES – ONE MAN
HEAD WIND
THE INFINITE BORDER
MECHANICAL LOVE
MILOSEVIC ON TRIAL
MY LIFE INSIDE
THE RED RACE
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY AWARD
HI MY NAME IS RYAN
LA PALOMA
LIFE. SUPPORT. MUSIC.
SONG SUNG BLUE
THROW DOWN YOUR HEART
WILD COMBINATION
