film
KLRU Celebrates Local Filmmakers Featured on Independent Lens
Do you live near Austin, Texas? Love indie film?
Tonight, KLRU-Austin will commemorate Texas Independents’ Day by celebrating the work of three local filmmakers whose work appears on this season of Independent Lens on PBS.
Filmmaker and University of Texas Professor Paul Stekler will moderate a panel discussion with Michel O. Scott (The Horse Boy), Karen Skloss (Sunshine), and Keith Maitland (The Eyes of Me) starting at 8 p.m.
Following the discussion, there will be a special screening of the Independent Lens broadcast of The Eyes of Me at 9:00 p.m. Space is limited.
Can’t make the screening or live too far away to attend? Fear not – check out Beyond the Box blog next week for clips from the event and a full recap from Keith Maitland, filmmaker of The Eyes of Me. Stay tuned!
Critics Pick Favorite Docs of the Decade. What Were Your Favorites?
What were the best documentary films of the past decade? One thing is certain — it’s not an easy task to narrow the list down. Fans of Community Cinema and Independent Lens have probably seen quite a few of the films on the lists. Community Cinema links below connect you to special materials, guides, and information about the film.
Good thing there are film critics who reflect back every ten years and compile lists of their own. Check out some of their favorites below, which include several ITVS funded documentaries and Independent Lens broadcasts. Have you seen these films? Do you agree with the critics? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. We love to hear from you! Release your inner critic.
Paste Magazine: 25 Best Documentaries of the Decade
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005) – Independent Lens
By Alex Gibney
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room chronicles a corporate disaster in which top executives from the seventh largest U.S. company walked away with over one billion dollars.
Waltz with Bashir (2008)
By Ari Folman
Former Israeli soldier and animator Ari Folman attempts to decipher the horror he witnessed in a 1982 massacre of thousands of Palestinian refugees by Christian militia.
Last Chance To Catch YOUNG@HEART For Free at Community Cinema
Members of the Young@Heart Chorus enjoying a rehearsal
There are five free screenings of the hit documentary YOUNG@HEART left in 2009, and four of them are this weekend. Our event in Chicago features legendary jazz musicians speaking about their lives, careers, and how they stay hep at heart. The event is at 2:00PM at the beautiful and historic Chicago Cultural Center at 78 East Washington Street.
Sunday, December 20 you have your choice of three free events to choose from. If you live in Tucson, Jamaica Plain, or DC check out the events in your neck of the woods. Events feature the film YOUNG@HEART accompanied by a variety of performances, speakers, and super seniors who can explore the deeper meaning and current relevance of the film in each local community.
One screening event left in December on the 29th if you’re lucky enough to live in or near Denver, Colorado. Join us at the Starz FilmCenter located at 9th Street and Auraria Parkway at 7:00 PM.
Stay tuned to the Community Cinema blog for updates and information. We’ll be showing the fascinating documentary GARBAGE DREAMS throughout January.
Finding Your Event
Click the "Find Events" button for a quick link to ALL upcoming FREE Community Cinema events.
You may have noticed that the events listing widget on the right-hand side of the page is gone. We were sorry to see it go, and are working hard to find a suitable replacement. But, now seems like a great time to mention a few ways you can find a FREE Community Cinema event near you. Events feature not only film previews but lively discussions, performances, and activities designed to enhance the messages in the film.
The quickest link to our complete and often-updated events list is the “Find Event” button in the tool bar at the top of this page. Click it, and a new window will open with a list of upcoming Community Cinema events. The list is searchable by community, film, and month. You can even look up past events to see if we’ve been to your community recently.
You can also follow our Twitter feed where we Tweet a daily quick peek at all our upcoming events and a few other interesting facts about film, public television, and the world around us (and the ground beneath our feet).
Bookmark our blog and you’ll always know where to find out the latest information.
8 Free Events in Two Days Will Keep You YOUNG@HEART
Members of the Young @ Heart Chorus Featured in The Documentary
In collaboration with the National Center for Creative Aging, Community Cinema presents free screening events of the uplifting and enlightening smash hit documentary YOUNG@HEART throughout the month of December. Get ready to rock with the most entertaining golden oldies you will ever meet in the senior citizen’s choir Young@Heart. Five free film events (many with local talented seniors speaking and/or performing) are happening in your community on Wednesday (today!) if you live in:
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
John Michael Kohler Arts Center at 12:30 PM and 7:00 PM
608 New York Ave.
Sheboygan, WI
St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri History Museum at 1:30 PM
5700 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO
Miami, Florida
Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus at 5:00 PM
300 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Room 3410-5 (Building 3, 4th floor)
Miami, FL 33132
Tucson, Arizona
Joel D. Valdez Main Library at 6:00 PM
101 N. Stone Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
Practice. Practice. Practice. The Young @ Heart Chorus Rehearses in a Scene From The Documentary.
And three free film events are happening in your community on Thursday, December 10 if you live in:
Tucson, Arizona
Quincie Douglas Branch Library at 9:00 AM
1585 E. 36th St.
Tucson, AZ 85713
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
The Open Eye Cafe at 4:00 PM
101 South Greensboro St.
Carrboro, NC
Tacoma, Washington
Pacific Lutheran University at 6:00 PM
Morken Center for Learning and Technology, Rm 103
12215 10th AVE S
Tacoma, WA 98444
Have you seen a preview video of the film? Here’s your chance!
Want more? Sneak a peak at a scene from the film on YouTube.
Community Cinema New Orleans Presents Special Challenges and Rewards
Allison Inman, our Nashville-based National Community Cinema Coordinator recently spoke to Jerald White, Director of the Charitable Film Network, our Community Cinema Producing Partner in New Orleans. Since 2006, Community Cinema – led by courageous volunteers – has presented free events in a variety of unique community venues.
Community Cinema New Orleans Presented BETWEEN THE FOLDS This Past Saturday
Allison writes, Of all the cities that host Community Cinema screenings, I’m most grateful for the New Orleans program. That post-Katrina transition — a mixture of financial setbacks and relentless creative spirit — makes it fertile ground for discussions around the social issues in the films.
AI: What are the challenges and triumphs of organizing events in New Orleans these days?
JW: Juggling the demands of our ongoing recovery effort, with the hardships brought on by the current recession can make it difficult to organize Community Cinema events. People sometimes get stuck in survival mode, and they don’t always feel like they can afford to take a break or connect with others in the community.
It’s always a challenge to secure program venues and funding, but we’ve moved the program forward despite these challenges. We’ve been very fortunate this year to attract new partners like the New Orleans Office of Film & Video, the Louisiana Office of Film & Television, Antenna Gallery, and the Dillard University Theater Department.
Antenna Gallery New Orleans, Louisiana
At the end of the day it seems that “organizing” in New Orleans is really about improvisation – learning to take advantage of the moment at hand, and understanding the importance of cultivating long-term community relationships.
AI: Which films resonate most with your audience? What kind of subject matter — social justice films like Tulia, Texas, or more light-hearted art films like Helvetica and Copyright Criminals?
JW: Films about the environment and hardcore social justice issues tend to draw larger crowds here. There is also a strong audience for films like HELVETICA and BETWEEN THE FOLDS. However, films with New Orleans themes like A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES traditionally resonate the most with our audience.
AI: You like to move the events around to various venues around town. Why do you think that’s important?
13 Events in Two Days
ABSTRACT "CRUMPLED" ORIGAMI BY FRENCH ARTIST VINCENT FLODERER
Chances are if you live in the lower 48, there’s a free Community Cinema documentary screening event near you on Tuesday or Wednesday. Our free events take place in a variety of venues and locations: universities, public libraries, historic movie palaces in L.A., public television stations, the Frida Kahlo Theater, and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. Two Community Cinema films are screening, and as always our events are free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome at Community Cinema.
Boise, Idaho
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 5:30 PM
BSU Student Union Building, Hatch Ballroom B
University Dr. at Lincoln
Hayward, California
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Hayward Public Library, Main Library
835 C Street,
Hayward, CA 94541
Oakland, California
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Oakland Asian Cultural Center
388 Ninth Street, Suite 290 (between Franklin and Webster)
Oakland, CA 94607
Find more events for BETWEEN THE FOLDS and also for COPYRIGHT CRIMINALS!
› Continue reading
Beyond The Box: Filmmaker Marjan Tehrani Discusses Favorite Films
Beyond The Box, the ITVS Blog, talks to director Marjan Tehrani. Her film ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING was one of the hits of last year’s Community Cinema season.
We recently caught up with ITVS-funded filmmaker Marjan Tehrani (ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING, P-STAR RISING) to talk about her favorite films and how they’ve influenced her style of filmmaking. Check out her top favorites below and tell us what you think.
What are your three favorite films of all-time and why?
1. Salesman by the Maysles brothers is one of my all-time favorites! I love this film because you truly feel like you are right there with these salesman as they go door to door and live on the road away from their families. The cinematography is amazing and the pace of the editing is well done. The Maysles have definitely influenced my style of filmmaking and has inspired me to follow in the style of direct cinema (cinema verité).
2. When We Were Kings is another classic documentary that has taught me so much about the craft of filmmaking. It is entertaining like docs should be! It has incredible storytelling with a great arc and footage that is so special and unique. This story and footage is something that I think any filmmaker would love to get their hands on.
3. Amores Perros –– I love this style of filmmaking that Alejandro González Iñárritu has brought to American Cinema. Other films that I greatly appreciate like Traffic have also used this storytelling method of interweaving different plots to tell a riveting and though provoking story. I hope to make a fiction film one day that has complex layers such as this film to make people think but also allow them to enjoy their movie experience.
What is your favorite film you’ve seen recently and why?
I would have to agree (that is with the million awards that this film received!) that Slumdog Millionaire is one of the best films I have seen recently. Danny Boyle did an amazing job directing this film. The casting was brilliant with the children and the the backdrop of India was exciting to see. I was on the edge of my seat through the whole film and I loved the game show story line. I am also a sucker for love stories and this was a good one.
See other filmmakers favorite films in the latest edition of Inside Indies >>
Beyond The Box: Filmmaker Johnny Symons Discusses Favorite Films
Beyond The Box, the Independent Lens Blog, talks to director Johnny Symons.
What are your favorite films? It’s a difficult question and oftentimes nearly impossible to narrow down.
We recently asked ITVS funded filmmaker Johnny Symons (ASK NOT, DADDY & PAPA) to talk about his favorites and why.
Check out his video response:
Visit Inside Indies to find out about other filmmakers favorite films >>
Grand Rapids Kicks Off the New Season of Community Cinema
D TOUR Panel Receives Well-Deserved Round of Applause
- left to right: Emily Coyle, Tricia Coyle, Emily Maurin WGVU, Sue Lewis and Jill Morrill
Michiganders kicked off Community Cinema’s 2009-2010 Season last night in Grand Rapids at The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. After the screening of D TOUR, we had a small but passionate crowd for this film, and an extremely knowledgeable panel. Just a few months ago, Jill Morrill donated her kidney to her 12-year-old daughter, who suffers from cystinosis. Sue Lewis donated her kidney two years ago to the father of one of her son’s friends. Tricia Coyle received a donated kidney a couple of months ago through a paired donor program in Toledo. Her daughter, Emily Coyle, worked hard to spread the word about her mother needing a donor – and recently found out that she suffers from the same genetic disorder that caused her mother’s kidney to fail.
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