‘Burden Of Proof’ Recap & Ending, Explained: Who Was Responsible For Jennifer Pandos’ Disappearance?
Burden of Proof, HBO’s brand-new documentary directed by Cynthia Hill, takes us through the case of Jennifer Pandos, who disappeared from her home at the age of 15. Stephen Pandos wants to prove his parents’ involvement in his sister’s disappearance. It has been 22 years since she was last seen, and ever since, there has been tension between Stephen and his mother and father.
Spoilers Ahead
Stephen Pandos’ Theory
With the advent of technology in the late 2000s, Stephen hopes he will be able to prove his suspicions because his parents were at home with Jennifer, and nothing would have happened without their knowledge. As an audience, it is depressing to watch the parents, Margie and Ron Pandos, being questioned by their only son. No one deserves to be treated with such humiliation, even if it means they will be proven guilty. Stephen is obsessed because he thought his parents were supposed to protect Jennifer,...
Spoilers Ahead
Stephen Pandos’ Theory
With the advent of technology in the late 2000s, Stephen hopes he will be able to prove his suspicions because his parents were at home with Jennifer, and nothing would have happened without their knowledge. As an audience, it is depressing to watch the parents, Margie and Ron Pandos, being questioned by their only son. No one deserves to be treated with such humiliation, even if it means they will be proven guilty. Stephen is obsessed because he thought his parents were supposed to protect Jennifer,...
- 6/8/2023
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
We all have issues with our parents, be them related to love, money, neglect or other grievances and wrongdoings, real or imagined. But the story of Stephen Pandos is more extreme than most. He spent a decade trying to prove that his mom and dad were responsible for the unsolved disappearance (and, presumably, death) of his 15-year-old sister, Jennifer, back in 1987. A tall, soft-spoken Virginian, he pursues his cause with dogged determination, through investigations conducted by police and private eyes, and through a seven-year collaboration with filmmaker Cynthia Hill. The...
- 6/7/2023
- by Chris Vognar
- Rollingstone.com
HBO’s released the official trailer for Burden of Proof, a documentary series that examines the case of Jennifer Pandos, a 15-year-old who went missing in 1987. The search for answers unfolds over four episodes shot in cinema verité over the course of seven years, and the trailer reveals Jennifer’s brother’s quest for the truth after living with a lie for 22 years.
Episodes one and two will premiere on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 9pm Et/Pt. Episodes three and four follow on June 7.
Two-time Emmy Award winner Cynthia Hill (A Chef’s Life) directed the true crime docuseries and served as producer along with Christine Delp and Andrea Weigl. Charlotte Cook and Concordia Fellowship’s Rahdi Taylor and Davis Guggenheim executive produced. HBO’s Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller also executive produced.
Per HBO: When 15-year-old Jennifer Pandos went missing in 1987, her parents told everyone she ran away. Decades later, her...
Episodes one and two will premiere on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 9pm Et/Pt. Episodes three and four follow on June 7.
Two-time Emmy Award winner Cynthia Hill (A Chef’s Life) directed the true crime docuseries and served as producer along with Christine Delp and Andrea Weigl. Charlotte Cook and Concordia Fellowship’s Rahdi Taylor and Davis Guggenheim executive produced. HBO’s Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller also executive produced.
Per HBO: When 15-year-old Jennifer Pandos went missing in 1987, her parents told everyone she ran away. Decades later, her...
- 5/26/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
"I think my mother knows what happens... My father scared her to keep this secret." HBO has revealed an official trailer for a chilling docu-drama series titled Burden of Proof, from filmmaker Cynthia Hill. This is a documentary about a real cold case, but it's shot and presented as a docu-drama with recreations and slick cinematography that makes it all look like a fictional HBO series. Decades after his sister disappeared, a brother is determined to find the truth no matter the cost. Shot in cinema verité over seven years, the series unfolds in real time. It focuses on a man named Stephen who launches his own investigation into what he fears may have transpired in his parents' house back in 1987 the night his sister Jennifer vanished and a suspicious handwritten note left as the only clue. A rich, complicated narrative emerges while Stephen is left to wonder the price...
- 5/25/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Click here to read the full article.
Sports and entertainment agency Octagon has added veteran agent and producer Adam Gelvan to its entertainment management and production group.
Gelvan comes over from Rain Management, where led the non-scripted and docuseries efforts. At Octagon, Gelvan as entertainment management and production manager will oversee a roster of directors, producers and on-camera talent, while also bringing his existing clients to the agency.
Reporting to Kyell Thomas, managing director, Octagon Entertainment, Gelvan brings experience in talent management, content development and production. He has managed directors Rory Karpf, Cynthia Hill and Dyana Winkler, director and writer Ben Nabors, among other producers and directors.
“Adam and I have known each other for over 15 years, and getting the chance to work together again is a long time coming. He is a proven leader, with excellent relationships and an expansive client list that will continue to strengthen our company...
Sports and entertainment agency Octagon has added veteran agent and producer Adam Gelvan to its entertainment management and production group.
Gelvan comes over from Rain Management, where led the non-scripted and docuseries efforts. At Octagon, Gelvan as entertainment management and production manager will oversee a roster of directors, producers and on-camera talent, while also bringing his existing clients to the agency.
Reporting to Kyell Thomas, managing director, Octagon Entertainment, Gelvan brings experience in talent management, content development and production. He has managed directors Rory Karpf, Cynthia Hill and Dyana Winkler, director and writer Ben Nabors, among other producers and directors.
“Adam and I have known each other for over 15 years, and getting the chance to work together again is a long time coming. He is a proven leader, with excellent relationships and an expansive client list that will continue to strengthen our company...
- 6/16/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Concordia Studio, the award-winning executive producers of this year’s Academy Award-winning Summer Of Soul, has announced four new exceptional filmmakers selected as part of the studio’s 2022 class of fellows for their signature program, The Concordia Fellowship.
The chosen recipients of the Fellowship are creators with the commitment to reshape the future of storytelling. Within the bespoke artist development program, each fellow receives a plan tailored to meet their specific creative goals, financial backing to develop a new project of their choosing, focused guidance and tools to build a sustainable career, and access to professional resources, use of the studio’s state-of-the-art facilities, and mentorship from Concordia executives.
Concordia fellows are the next generation of powerful storytellers and come from diverse racial, religious, and regional backgrounds. This year’s selected fellows who are recognized for their excellence in documentary filmmaking are Giselle Bailey,...
The chosen recipients of the Fellowship are creators with the commitment to reshape the future of storytelling. Within the bespoke artist development program, each fellow receives a plan tailored to meet their specific creative goals, financial backing to develop a new project of their choosing, focused guidance and tools to build a sustainable career, and access to professional resources, use of the studio’s state-of-the-art facilities, and mentorship from Concordia executives.
Concordia fellows are the next generation of powerful storytellers and come from diverse racial, religious, and regional backgrounds. This year’s selected fellows who are recognized for their excellence in documentary filmmaking are Giselle Bailey,...
- 3/30/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you about a celebrity death that affected them. One where they know the exact moment they were and how that demise triggered some type of ending in their own collective becoming. For me, it was “Clueless” star Brittany Murphy. I can’t say I adored Murphy’s films, but for a young girl from the suburbs there was something about Murphy that was understandable. I knew I’d never be Alicia Silverstone’s Cher, but everyone felt like Murphy’s Tai. Her death felt so shocking because of how normal it was: pneumonia. But, of course, that was just the surface of everything.
“What Happened, Brittany Murphy,” the new HBO Max docuseries, arrives during a recent trend of documentaries aimed at reconciling (and apologizing) for the way young women were used and abused in Hollywood. Just in the last two months, we’ve seen...
“What Happened, Brittany Murphy,” the new HBO Max docuseries, arrives during a recent trend of documentaries aimed at reconciling (and apologizing) for the way young women were used and abused in Hollywood. Just in the last two months, we’ve seen...
- 10/14/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
More than a decade after Brittany Murphy died, director Cynthia Hill wants to give the actor a chance to “be something other than her death.”
“We’re doing a lot of looking back to reevaluate missteps and to be able to talk about people like Britney Spears and Brittany Murphy, who have been victimized by Hollywood, by the gossip industry,” Hill tells Variety. “Having to look back at what our role is in all of that [is] giving these women an opportunity to reclaim their voices.”
Working with Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, Hill spent the last year creating a two-part docuseries about the circumstances that led to Murphy’s death on Dec. 20, 2009, at age 32. “What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” bows Oct. 14 on HBO Max.
The series opens with the emotional 911 call from Murphy’s mother, Sharon Murphy, declaring that her daughter is unresponsive. Over the next four hours, Hill goes backward...
“We’re doing a lot of looking back to reevaluate missteps and to be able to talk about people like Britney Spears and Brittany Murphy, who have been victimized by Hollywood, by the gossip industry,” Hill tells Variety. “Having to look back at what our role is in all of that [is] giving these women an opportunity to reclaim their voices.”
Working with Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, Hill spent the last year creating a two-part docuseries about the circumstances that led to Murphy’s death on Dec. 20, 2009, at age 32. “What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” bows Oct. 14 on HBO Max.
The series opens with the emotional 911 call from Murphy’s mother, Sharon Murphy, declaring that her daughter is unresponsive. Over the next four hours, Hill goes backward...
- 10/14/2021
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
The 2009 death of Brittany Murphy, the 32-year-old film star, is the sort of tragedy about which it’s tempting to search for answers — be they practical, about how it happened, or more cosmic, about what greater meaning can be found in the loss of life and potential here.
And yet some sets of facts exist beyond our ability to make satisfying sense of them. Sometimes, things are just sad. For all its probing into dark and uncomfortable places, the new documentary series “What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” can come to no more clarifying answer to its title question than what had seemed apparent to a viewer before the series began. As for meaning, “What Happened” settles for the bleakest and dullest of Hollywood cliché, ending in a place that degrades Murphy’s memory while pretending to honor it.
Murphy was an ebullient, bright presence in films like “Clueless,” “8 Mile,” and “Sin City,...
And yet some sets of facts exist beyond our ability to make satisfying sense of them. Sometimes, things are just sad. For all its probing into dark and uncomfortable places, the new documentary series “What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” can come to no more clarifying answer to its title question than what had seemed apparent to a viewer before the series began. As for meaning, “What Happened” settles for the bleakest and dullest of Hollywood cliché, ending in a place that degrades Murphy’s memory while pretending to honor it.
Murphy was an ebullient, bright presence in films like “Clueless,” “8 Mile,” and “Sin City,...
- 10/13/2021
- by Daniel D'Addario
- Variety Film + TV
“Clueless” and “8 Mile” star Brittany Murphy’s sudden death in 2009 at the age of 32 rocked Hollywood. Much speculation followed as to the cause of her death at a young age, while it was eventually ruled as an accident. A new HBO Max documentary, “What Happened, Brittany Murphy?,” aims to go beyond the headlines to explore the screen icon’s life and death. The two-part series premieres on the streaming platform October 14. Watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis, courtesy of HBO Max: “A beloved Hollywood starlet known for a number of iconic roles – gone at 32 years old. Unanswered questions, controversial figures, and surrounded by speculation: what really happened to Brittany Murphy? This two-part documentary explores her life beyond headlines, celebrating her legacy and investigating her tragic and untimely death.”
The documentary hails from Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions. The film is directed by Emmy nominee Cynthia Hill,...
Here’s the synopsis, courtesy of HBO Max: “A beloved Hollywood starlet known for a number of iconic roles – gone at 32 years old. Unanswered questions, controversial figures, and surrounded by speculation: what really happened to Brittany Murphy? This two-part documentary explores her life beyond headlines, celebrating her legacy and investigating her tragic and untimely death.”
The documentary hails from Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions. The film is directed by Emmy nominee Cynthia Hill,...
- 10/7/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
HBO Max is set to explore the death of Clueless actress Brittany Murphy with a new two-part documentary, What Happened, Brittany Murphy?
The documentary produced by Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, and directed by Cynthia Hill (Private Violence), is described as “an intimate, in-depth character portrait of actress Brittany Murphy, going beyond the headlines to explore the mysterious circumstances surrounding her tragic death at 32 years old.”
Here’s the official trailer:
Murphy was a rising star, who starred in films such as 8 Mile and Just Married, and passed away in 2009. Her death was ruled accidental and was caused by a “...
The documentary produced by Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, and directed by Cynthia Hill (Private Violence), is described as “an intimate, in-depth character portrait of actress Brittany Murphy, going beyond the headlines to explore the mysterious circumstances surrounding her tragic death at 32 years old.”
Here’s the official trailer:
Murphy was a rising star, who starred in films such as 8 Mile and Just Married, and passed away in 2009. Her death was ruled accidental and was caused by a “...
- 10/7/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HBO Max is set to explore the death of Clueless actress Brittany Murphy with a new two-part documentary, What Happened, Brittany Murphy?
The documentary produced by Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, and directed by Cynthia Hill (Private Violence), is described as “an intimate, in-depth character portrait of actress Brittany Murphy, going beyond the headlines to explore the mysterious circumstances surrounding her tragic death at 32 years old.”
Here’s the official trailer:
Murphy was a rising star, who starred in films such as 8 Mile and Just Married, and passed away in 2009. Her death was ruled accidental and was caused by a “...
The documentary produced by Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, and directed by Cynthia Hill (Private Violence), is described as “an intimate, in-depth character portrait of actress Brittany Murphy, going beyond the headlines to explore the mysterious circumstances surrounding her tragic death at 32 years old.”
Here’s the official trailer:
Murphy was a rising star, who starred in films such as 8 Mile and Just Married, and passed away in 2009. Her death was ruled accidental and was caused by a “...
- 10/7/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
A new documentary delves deep into the allegedly shady past of Brittany Murphy's husband Simon Monjack, who mysteriously died months after the actress did. What Happened, Brittany Murphy?, set to air on HBO Max on Oct. 14, focuses on the Clueless star's final days before her shocking death and her relationship with the British screenwriter. "He was a disturbed individual who was used to conning people and Brittany was one of his last victims," documentary director Cynthia Hill told People about Monjack. "There was a pattern of behavior that became very obvious the more research that we did." The program features interviews with Monjack's mother, Linda,...
- 10/6/2021
- E! Online
HBO Max has ordered a two-part documentary about the late actor Brittany Murphy, best known for voicing Luanne Platter in “King of the Hill” and for starring in films like “Clueless” and “8 Mile.” The documentary hails from Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions and aims to present a detailed portrait of Murphy’s life, career, and unexpected death amid mysterious circumstances in 2009 when she was only 32. The series, yet to be titled, will work to debunk conspiracy theories and go beyond the tabloid headlines, with new interviews with those closest to Murphy, along with never-before-seen archival footage.
The film is directed by Emmy nominee Cynthia Hill, best known for her 2014 documentary about domestic abuse, “Private Violence,” which premiered the same year in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. Hill said in a statement, “I agreed to do this film because I think it’s a shame...
The film is directed by Emmy nominee Cynthia Hill, best known for her 2014 documentary about domestic abuse, “Private Violence,” which premiered the same year in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. Hill said in a statement, “I agreed to do this film because I think it’s a shame...
- 3/18/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
HBO Max has ordered a two-part documentary about the life and death of actress Brittany Murphy from Blumhouse Television, the streaming service said Thursday.
Per its official description, the untitled doc “presents an in-depth, intimate character portrait exploring the life and career and mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragic death of ’90s actress and rising star, Brittany Murphy.” HBO Max says “the series will go beyond the conspiracy theories and headlines, featuring new interviews by those closest to Brittany and new archival footage.”
The star of films like “Clueless,” “8 Mile,” “Uptown Girls” and “Girl, Interrupted,” Murphy went into cardiac arrest and died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Dec. 20, 2009, after reportedly collapsing at the Los Angeles home she shared with her husband, Simon Monjack. Her official cause of death was ruled pneumonia.
The two-part documentary will be directed by Cynthia Hill (“Private Violence”). Executive producers include Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold...
Per its official description, the untitled doc “presents an in-depth, intimate character portrait exploring the life and career and mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragic death of ’90s actress and rising star, Brittany Murphy.” HBO Max says “the series will go beyond the conspiracy theories and headlines, featuring new interviews by those closest to Brittany and new archival footage.”
The star of films like “Clueless,” “8 Mile,” “Uptown Girls” and “Girl, Interrupted,” Murphy went into cardiac arrest and died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Dec. 20, 2009, after reportedly collapsing at the Los Angeles home she shared with her husband, Simon Monjack. Her official cause of death was ruled pneumonia.
The two-part documentary will be directed by Cynthia Hill (“Private Violence”). Executive producers include Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold...
- 3/18/2021
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
HBO Max has ordered a two-part docuseries about late actor Brittany Murphy from Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, with Emmy-nominated Cynthia Hill (Private Violence) attached to direct. The order marks the first for Blumhouse Television with HBO Max.
The Untitled Brittany Murphy project presents an in-depth, intimate character portrait exploring the life and career and mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragic death of 90’s actress and rising star, Brittany Murphy. The series will go beyond the conspiracy theories and headlines, featuring new interviews by those closest to Brittany and new archival footage.
“Our Brittany Murphy documentary cuts through the tabloid noise with an elevated, nuanced depiction of a sensational story,” said Jennifer O’Connell, EVP, Non-Fiction and Live-Action Family Programming, HBO Max. “Crafting a grounded account of Brittany Murphy’s life struggles and sudden passing comes with great responsibility and we’ve partnered with a masterful creative team to produce a thoughtful...
The Untitled Brittany Murphy project presents an in-depth, intimate character portrait exploring the life and career and mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragic death of 90’s actress and rising star, Brittany Murphy. The series will go beyond the conspiracy theories and headlines, featuring new interviews by those closest to Brittany and new archival footage.
“Our Brittany Murphy documentary cuts through the tabloid noise with an elevated, nuanced depiction of a sensational story,” said Jennifer O’Connell, EVP, Non-Fiction and Live-Action Family Programming, HBO Max. “Crafting a grounded account of Brittany Murphy’s life struggles and sudden passing comes with great responsibility and we’ve partnered with a masterful creative team to produce a thoughtful...
- 3/18/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO Max has ordered a documentary about the late actor Brittany Murphy. The two-part series hails from Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions.
The documentary will explore the life and death of Murphy, who was best known for the film “Clueless” and whose other credits included “8 Mile,” “Just Married” and the Fox animated comedy series “King of the Hill.” She died in 2009 at the age of 32. Though her death was ruled an accident and determined to be the result of a combination of pneumonia and the effects of several over-the-counter drugs she had taken, the death one year later of her husband has fueled speculation about her passing.
“Our Brittany Murphy documentary cuts through the tabloid noise with an elevated, nuanced depiction of a sensational story,” said Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president, non-fiction and live-action family programming, HBO Max. “Crafting a grounded account of Brittany Murphy’s life struggles and...
The documentary will explore the life and death of Murphy, who was best known for the film “Clueless” and whose other credits included “8 Mile,” “Just Married” and the Fox animated comedy series “King of the Hill.” She died in 2009 at the age of 32. Though her death was ruled an accident and determined to be the result of a combination of pneumonia and the effects of several over-the-counter drugs she had taken, the death one year later of her husband has fueled speculation about her passing.
“Our Brittany Murphy documentary cuts through the tabloid noise with an elevated, nuanced depiction of a sensational story,” said Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president, non-fiction and live-action family programming, HBO Max. “Crafting a grounded account of Brittany Murphy’s life struggles and...
- 3/18/2021
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Feature documentaries from stars including Tilda Swinton and Alan Cumming as well as producers such as Searching For Sugarman’s John Battsek and Shooting Bigfoot’s Morgan Matthews are some of the high-profile projects searching for funding at this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest.
Major broadcasters including HBO and the BBC as well as a slew of European networks have come on board a raft of early-stage docs, which are searching for final funding at Sheffield Doc/Fest’s MeetMarket. The marketplace, which is whittled down from around 550 projects, entices over 300 decision makers including Netflix and YouTube as well as distributors including Neon, Submarine and Cinetic.
We Need To Talk About Kevin star Swinton’s On Drumduan Hill, which she will direct, is arguably the most high-profile project on offer at the event, held in the UK city between June 7 – 12. The film, which is produced by Lily Ford with a...
Major broadcasters including HBO and the BBC as well as a slew of European networks have come on board a raft of early-stage docs, which are searching for final funding at Sheffield Doc/Fest’s MeetMarket. The marketplace, which is whittled down from around 550 projects, entices over 300 decision makers including Netflix and YouTube as well as distributors including Neon, Submarine and Cinetic.
We Need To Talk About Kevin star Swinton’s On Drumduan Hill, which she will direct, is arguably the most high-profile project on offer at the event, held in the UK city between June 7 – 12. The film, which is produced by Lily Ford with a...
- 6/11/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
65 filmmaker teams from around the world will pitch to international and UK decision makers.
Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 7-12) has revealed the titles that will pitch for funding at the 14th edition of its MeetMarket initiative.
A total of 65 filmmaker teams from 20 countries will pitch to international and UK decision makers for research, development and production funding. Around 300 decision makers from 20 countries are expected with execs from YouTube, ESPN, Starz and The Financial Times.
At the Alternate Realities Market, which includes digital titles, a further 25 Vr and interactive projects will pitch in one-to-one meetings to a range of specialist decision makers.
Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 7-12) has revealed the titles that will pitch for funding at the 14th edition of its MeetMarket initiative.
A total of 65 filmmaker teams from 20 countries will pitch to international and UK decision makers for research, development and production funding. Around 300 decision makers from 20 countries are expected with execs from YouTube, ESPN, Starz and The Financial Times.
At the Alternate Realities Market, which includes digital titles, a further 25 Vr and interactive projects will pitch in one-to-one meetings to a range of specialist decision makers.
- 4/24/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Prior to today’s Oscar nomination announcements, Joshua Oppenheimer‘s follow up/ companion film to the haunting The Act of Killing won the top prizes at the 2015 Cinema Eye Honors. The Look of Silence claimed the Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature, Outstanding Achievement in Direction for Joshua Oppenheimer and Outstanding Achievement in Production for the film’s producer Signe Byrge Sorensen. Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi’s Sundance preemed docu landed a pair of wins. Here is the list of worthy winners per category.
Winners:
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking: “The Look of Silence,” directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, produced by Signe Byrge Sorensen
Outstanding Achievement in Direction: Joshua Oppenheimer, “The Look of Silence”
Outstanding Achievement in Editing: Chris King, “Amy”
Outstanding Achievement in Production: Signe Byrge Sorensen, “The Look of Silence”
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: (tie) Matthew Heineman and Matt Porwoll, “Cartel Land,” and Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk,...
Winners:
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking: “The Look of Silence,” directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, produced by Signe Byrge Sorensen
Outstanding Achievement in Direction: Joshua Oppenheimer, “The Look of Silence”
Outstanding Achievement in Editing: Chris King, “Amy”
Outstanding Achievement in Production: Signe Byrge Sorensen, “The Look of Silence”
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: (tie) Matthew Heineman and Matt Porwoll, “Cartel Land,” and Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk,...
- 1/14/2016
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
The North Carolina Film Critics Association has announced its list of nominees in a modest array of categories this season, and once again, it's "Birdman" leading the way, with seven nominations. One of those came for the Tar Heel Award, recognizing artists with ties to North Carolina. Wilkesboro native Zach Galifianakis, who in my opinion actually deserves a hard look for Best Supporting Actor consideration, got a notice there. Check out the full list of nominees below. Winners will be announced Jan. 5. And check out the rest of the season's offerings at The Circuit. Best Narrative Film "Boyhood" "Birdman" "Calvary" "The Grand Budapest Hotel" "A Most Violent Year" "Selma" "Whiplash" Best Director Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" Damien Chazelle, "Whiplash" Ava DuVernay, "Selma" David Fincher, "Gone Girl" Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Birdman" Richard Linklater, "Boyhood" Best Actor Ralph Fiennes, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" Brendan Gleeson, "Calvary" Tom Hardy, "Locke" Michael Keaton,...
- 12/30/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
It took longer for me to get through Private Violence, a feature-length profile of an advocate for battered women that airs on HBO tonight at 9 p.m., than any TV documentary I've seen. The filmmakers should consider this a compliment. I kept starting the damned thing and then stopping it after ten minutes, then watching it another ten minutes, then stopping, always to collect myself, or steel myself. If I'd seen it in a theater I might have left for a while, or watched certain scenes through splayed fingers. Anybody who's experienced the situations chronicled in this film will understand why: Domestic violence is a door marked "Do Not Open," and here is Private Violence, opening it, and saying, "Step inside, have a look." Directed by Cynthia Hill, Private Violence chronicles the life and work of Kit Gruelle, a North Carolina woman who escaped an abusive relationship and became a...
- 10/20/2014
- by Matt Zoller Seitz
- Vulture
The Human Rights Watch Festival, which celebrates 25 years this year, announced a line-up of 22 features, which includes 20 documentaries and 2 fiction films - 16 of which were made by women. Two of the 16 films made by women - Cynthia Hill's "Private Violence" and Zeina Daccache's "Sheherazade's Diary" - will bookend this year's festival. Executive produced by Gloria Steinem and screened at Sundance back in January, "Private Violence" is a chilling documentary that tells the story of two women who have been subjected to domestic violence. Read More: Chicken and Egg Pictures, The Force Behind Women Directed Documentaries In "Sheherazade's Diary," Daccache chronicles her own experience working on a drama therapy project with female inmates in Lebanon's Baabda Prison. "One look at the breadth of this year’s program," says Festival Director John Biaggi, "confirms that the festival is even more crucial today." Crucial indeed, as the Human Rights...
- 5/12/2014
- by Shipra Gupta
- Indiewire
Documentary lovers, get ready! North America's biggest documentary film festival, Hot Docs, is set to gear up for 2014 in Toronto. The 21st Hot Docs runs from April 24 - May 4, and this year's slate presents 197 titles from 43 countries in 12 screening programs.
"We are so proud to be showing these incredible films and combining them with amazing live events and experiences." says Hot Docs director of programming Charlotte Cook. "We truly hope it will be a festival of ideas, discussion and amazement and we're looking forward to bringing the best filmmaking in the world to the world's greatest audience."
Article Continues Below Slideshow!
In addition to the opening night international premiere of Brian Knappenberger's "The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz," an inspiring and emotional portrait of a young Internet visionary, other notable films in the Special Presentations program include: Pavel Loparev and Askold Kurov's "Children 404," a...
"We are so proud to be showing these incredible films and combining them with amazing live events and experiences." says Hot Docs director of programming Charlotte Cook. "We truly hope it will be a festival of ideas, discussion and amazement and we're looking forward to bringing the best filmmaking in the world to the world's greatest audience."
Article Continues Below Slideshow!
In addition to the opening night international premiere of Brian Knappenberger's "The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz," an inspiring and emotional portrait of a young Internet visionary, other notable films in the Special Presentations program include: Pavel Loparev and Askold Kurov's "Children 404," a...
- 3/18/2014
- by Chris Jancelewicz
- Moviefone
I know that the Sundance Film Festival ended over a week ago, but in the six days I was at Sundance (and on screeners in the days before), I saw 25 movies. I wrote full reviews for 13 of them. My Full Sundance reviews: 'The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz' "The Overnighters" "Rudderless" "Fed Up" "Marmato" "Love Child" "Land Ho!" "The Voices" "Happy Valley" "My Prairie Home" "Life Itself" "Mitt" "Web Junkie" But that left 12 movies that I just didn't have the time to write my usual 1000-to-1750 words on. Since getting back from Park City, I've been slowly working my way through capsule reviews for those 12 movies. These are roughly the length of my Take Me To The Pilots entries, which means that in this format, people are going to complain about all of the text and the lack of paragraphs. Sorry. Because I'm just one part of HitFix's awesome Sundance team,...
- 2/5/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the more recognized stops on the film festival circuit, a status that often sees it as the place for movies to make their North American and World premieres. With a number of intriguing and high-quality pictures screening over the course of the event, not every film that plays at the festival ends up securing a distribution deal. Here are ten films from the 2014 Sundance Film Festival that ended the event without a distributor, but ones we hope will make it to a general audience at some point, be it via theatres, instant streaming, VOD, or other means. The list is in alphabetical order.
1) 52 Tuesdays
The story of transgendered and transsexual individuals is one that movies and television have yet to explore thoroughly, with some notable exceptions. Thus, any story looking at such individuals, and the impact...
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the more recognized stops on the film festival circuit, a status that often sees it as the place for movies to make their North American and World premieres. With a number of intriguing and high-quality pictures screening over the course of the event, not every film that plays at the festival ends up securing a distribution deal. Here are ten films from the 2014 Sundance Film Festival that ended the event without a distributor, but ones we hope will make it to a general audience at some point, be it via theatres, instant streaming, VOD, or other means. The list is in alphabetical order.
1) 52 Tuesdays
The story of transgendered and transsexual individuals is one that movies and television have yet to explore thoroughly, with some notable exceptions. Thus, any story looking at such individuals, and the impact...
- 1/27/2014
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
Rex Miller is an experienced documentary cinematographer, with projects including 2014's "Althea," HBO's "The Loving Story," "Behind These Walls," and the 2013 series "A Chef's Life." His most recent project is Cynthia Hill's "Private Violence," a documentary screening at Sundance which delves into two women's true stories of surviving domestic violence. What camera and lens did you use? Panasonic Af 100, Nikkor 35mm f1.4. What was the most difficult shot on your movie, and how did you pull it off? The opening scene of the film is my favorite. It's a very tense scene where a woman at a domestic violence shelter, who thinks she is there without the knowledge of her abuser, gets text messages from him that he is coming to get her. The pressure ratchets up, the cops are called, and people are scrambling for safety, as well as information. I feel we were successful in capturing the...
- 1/21/2014
- by Taylor Lindsay
- Indiewire
I’m back in Park City for another week of premieres, interviews, and screenings of at least a few films that the community will be talking about all year. Last year’s Sundance produced “The Spectacular Now,” “Stories We Tell,” “Mud,” “Upstream Color,” “Before Midnight,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” and more. What will impact this year?
Nothing that I’ve seen yet although the buzz on “Whiplash” has been deafening. As the festival unfolds, I’ll pop in here once a day and just let you know what I’ve seen and what I thought. Of course, come back to the site for longer reviews throughout the year but consider a great 2014 movie preview.
As is often the case, Sundance starts slowly. Some of the films I’ve seen, I can’t write about yet, and I didn’t make anything Opening Night. So we’re just getting started.
Nothing that I’ve seen yet although the buzz on “Whiplash” has been deafening. As the festival unfolds, I’ll pop in here once a day and just let you know what I’ve seen and what I thought. Of course, come back to the site for longer reviews throughout the year but consider a great 2014 movie preview.
As is often the case, Sundance starts slowly. Some of the films I’ve seen, I can’t write about yet, and I didn’t make anything Opening Night. So we’re just getting started.
- 1/17/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
It’s that time again. The biggest American film festival is upon us, and this year the Ioncinema crew will be descending on Park City with eight feet on the ground and eight eyes on Park City’s various and plentiful screens. Eric Lavallee, Nicholas Bell, Caitlin Coder and I will be covering just about every inch of this year’s festival here at Ioncinema.com, as well as on that ever increasingly vibrant instanews network – Twitter. Be sure to follow @ioncinema and, as stated above, my personal handle @Rectangular_Eye, as we’ll be tweeting throughout the festival with breaking news, reviews, and sightings, all the while trying to keep up with the massive amount of content sure to be coming from this year’s Sundance filmmakers themselves, most of which have their own Twitter accounts and are listed at length below (minus the world & short programs). Whether you...
- 1/16/2014
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
Audiences will no longer be so quick to judge victims of domestic abuse when Cynthia Hill's documentary feature "Private Violence" reaches them. The film pulls us into the wrenching lives of women with abusive partners and fortunately sheds infinitely new light on the oft-misunderstood issue. What It's About: Everyday in this country, one in four women are murdered by an abusive partner. It is a deeply disturbing fact of American life that the most dangerous place for a woman is in her own home. "Private Violence" is an intimate look at how this epidemic of violence plays out in the day-to-day lives of two women: Kit Gruelle, a domestic violence survivor-turned-advocate, and Deanna Walters, a young woman who recently escaped a near-death experience at the hands of her estranged husband. Kit and Deanna are two powerful women at different stages in the trajectory from victim to survivor. So What...
- 1/16/2014
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Part two in this year’s Sundance Twitterverse series, we are bringing you direct contact with most of next year’s Oscar short list. No one on this list is repped more than the No No: A Dockumentary (@dockumentary) crew, who are all sporting profile pics from the film on their feeds.
U.S. Documentary Competition
Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory – @AliveInsideFilm
Editor Manuel Tsingaris – @MTsingaris
Composer Itall Shur – @ItaalShur
All the Beautiful Things – @ATBThingsMovie
Director John Harkrider – @pathetic100
Captivated The Trials of Pamela Smart
Cinematographer Naiti Gámez – @naitigamez
The Case Against 8 – @TheCaseAgainst8
Co-Director Ben Cotner – @bcotner
Producer Rebekah Fergusson – @R_Films
Composer Blake Neely – @cowonthewall
Cesar’s Last Fast – @CesarsLastFast
Co-Director Richard Ray Perez – @BraveNewRick
Producer Molly O’Brien – @mobworks
Editor Lewis Erskine – @EditorSavant
Editor Carla Gutierrez – @CarlitaGu
Cinematographer James Chressanthis – @NoSubtitles
E-team - @ETeamFilm
Subject: Human Rights Watch – @hrw
Co-Director Katy Chevigny – @mightychevs
Co-Director...
U.S. Documentary Competition
Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory – @AliveInsideFilm
Editor Manuel Tsingaris – @MTsingaris
Composer Itall Shur – @ItaalShur
All the Beautiful Things – @ATBThingsMovie
Director John Harkrider – @pathetic100
Captivated The Trials of Pamela Smart
Cinematographer Naiti Gámez – @naitigamez
The Case Against 8 – @TheCaseAgainst8
Co-Director Ben Cotner – @bcotner
Producer Rebekah Fergusson – @R_Films
Composer Blake Neely – @cowonthewall
Cesar’s Last Fast – @CesarsLastFast
Co-Director Richard Ray Perez – @BraveNewRick
Producer Molly O’Brien – @mobworks
Editor Lewis Erskine – @EditorSavant
Editor Carla Gutierrez – @CarlitaGu
Cinematographer James Chressanthis – @NoSubtitles
E-team - @ETeamFilm
Subject: Human Rights Watch – @hrw
Co-Director Katy Chevigny – @mightychevs
Co-Director...
- 1/16/2014
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
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