HBO Documentary Films is in production on Stax, a multi-part documentary series exploring the Memphis-based record label Stax Records, which featured R&b stars Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers and Sam & Dave.
The series, which documents the meteoric rise and fall of the label, is directed by “Ailey” filmmaker Jamila Wignot, and executive produced by Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow (“Oj: Made In America”) of Laylow Pictures and Nigel Sinclair and Nicholas Ferrall of White Horse Pictures. It’s presented in association with Concord Originals, Polygram Entertainment and Warner Music Entertainment.
“In both the sound that fueled its rise and the events that triggered its demise, Stax Records manifested the soul of America,“ Edelman said in a statement. “There is no better person to bring this quintessential American story to HBO’s viewers than Jamila Wignot, whose work I’ve long admired.
The series, which documents the meteoric rise and fall of the label, is directed by “Ailey” filmmaker Jamila Wignot, and executive produced by Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow (“Oj: Made In America”) of Laylow Pictures and Nigel Sinclair and Nicholas Ferrall of White Horse Pictures. It’s presented in association with Concord Originals, Polygram Entertainment and Warner Music Entertainment.
“In both the sound that fueled its rise and the events that triggered its demise, Stax Records manifested the soul of America,“ Edelman said in a statement. “There is no better person to bring this quintessential American story to HBO’s viewers than Jamila Wignot, whose work I’ve long admired.
- 5/3/2022
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
The Sundance Institute has selected Minhal Baig, Marion Hill, Ciara Lacy, Billy Luther, Chanelle Aponte Pearson, Mariem Pérez Riera, Jamila Wignot and Iman Zawahry for its fourth Momentum Fellowship, supporting professional development for mid-career artists from historically marginalized communities as they explore and develop their creative practice.
The eight fellows selected will participate in a full-year program tailored for each by Sundance Institute staffers, receiving access to unrestricted grant funding, as well as industry mentorship and meetings, a writing intensive, and professional coaching offered by Renee Freedman & Company, with support from The Harnisch Foundation. Additionally, as part of the Sundance Institute’s ongoing partnership with NBCUniversal, the studio will provide an opportunity for select Momentum fellows working on fiction projects to participate in the Universal Directors Initiative. The two-year, at-will initiative, led by Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion team, provides access to NBCUniversal’s creative executives and producers to...
The eight fellows selected will participate in a full-year program tailored for each by Sundance Institute staffers, receiving access to unrestricted grant funding, as well as industry mentorship and meetings, a writing intensive, and professional coaching offered by Renee Freedman & Company, with support from The Harnisch Foundation. Additionally, as part of the Sundance Institute’s ongoing partnership with NBCUniversal, the studio will provide an opportunity for select Momentum fellows working on fiction projects to participate in the Universal Directors Initiative. The two-year, at-will initiative, led by Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion team, provides access to NBCUniversal’s creative executives and producers to...
- 3/8/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Ailey (Jamila Wignot)
Has any choreographer mattered more to American dance than Alvin Ailey? The documentary Ailey, directed by Jamila Wignot, makes a good case that there has not. Comprised of amazing archival footage, peer interviews, and choreographer Rennie Harris prepping a modern-day performance in honor of the artist, Wignot paints a full picture of a complicated man. Born in the middle of Texas during The Great Depression, old recordings of Ailey recount his picking cotton with his mother (his father was non-existent in his life), then later on seeing Katherine Dunham (and her male backup dancers) perform live. The shock of watching somebody that looked like him produce such wonderful art emboldened him to pursue the work himself. – Dan M. (full...
Ailey (Jamila Wignot)
Has any choreographer mattered more to American dance than Alvin Ailey? The documentary Ailey, directed by Jamila Wignot, makes a good case that there has not. Comprised of amazing archival footage, peer interviews, and choreographer Rennie Harris prepping a modern-day performance in honor of the artist, Wignot paints a full picture of a complicated man. Born in the middle of Texas during The Great Depression, old recordings of Ailey recount his picking cotton with his mother (his father was non-existent in his life), then later on seeing Katherine Dunham (and her male backup dancers) perform live. The shock of watching somebody that looked like him produce such wonderful art emboldened him to pursue the work himself. – Dan M. (full...
- 1/14/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Sony’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” continued its reign at the top of the U.K. and Ireland box office for the third weekend in a row with £6.05 million ($8.2 million). The film now has a total of £69.8 million ($94.5 million), according to numbers from Comscore.
Disney prequel “The King’s Man” bowed strongly in second position with £3.4 million. “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” released by eOne, collected £778,802 in third place and now has a total of £5.9 million after four weekends.
In its second weekend, “The Matrix Resurrections” took £760,427 in fourth position and now has a total of £5.2 million. Rounding off the top five was Disney release, Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” with £397,792. The film has collected £5.08 million after four weekends.
After being snubbed at the Academy Awards’ international feature category, Julia Ducournau’s Cannes winner “Titane” was released by Altitude and collected £121,920 in ninth position in its debut weekend.
Reliance Entertainment’s Bollywood cricket epic “’83,...
Disney prequel “The King’s Man” bowed strongly in second position with £3.4 million. “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” released by eOne, collected £778,802 in third place and now has a total of £5.9 million after four weekends.
In its second weekend, “The Matrix Resurrections” took £760,427 in fourth position and now has a total of £5.2 million. Rounding off the top five was Disney release, Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” with £397,792. The film has collected £5.08 million after four weekends.
After being snubbed at the Academy Awards’ international feature category, Julia Ducournau’s Cannes winner “Titane” was released by Altitude and collected £121,920 in ninth position in its debut weekend.
Reliance Entertainment’s Bollywood cricket epic “’83,...
- 1/4/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
On a sunny afternoon in L.A., Bryn Mooser, CEO of Xtr, folds his long frame into a patio chair perched above the headquarters of his growing documentary company. His green eyes scan the hilly enclaves of Silver Lake and Los Feliz, spotting landmarks: the Griffith Observatory in the distance, Hyperion Avenue below.
He points down the slope. “This is the Gelson’s right there, where Walt Disney bought that piece of land and built the first Disney studio. Mickey Mouse and Snow White were created in–what’s now a parking lot.”
His index finger inches west along the horizon, indicating bungalows with pitched roofs. “You can see the top of that house right there. It’s called the Snow White Cottages,” he says. “Snow White was based on those cottages. Anyway, I love early Disney stuff.”
Nearly a century after Disney laid the groundwork for his entertainment kingdom in the same vicinity,...
He points down the slope. “This is the Gelson’s right there, where Walt Disney bought that piece of land and built the first Disney studio. Mickey Mouse and Snow White were created in–what’s now a parking lot.”
His index finger inches west along the horizon, indicating bungalows with pitched roofs. “You can see the top of that house right there. It’s called the Snow White Cottages,” he says. “Snow White was based on those cottages. Anyway, I love early Disney stuff.”
Nearly a century after Disney laid the groundwork for his entertainment kingdom in the same vicinity,...
- 12/20/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Animation, documentary submissions also tallied.
The Academy has confirmed it has received 93 country submissions for the international feature film category in the run-up to the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022.
The Academy said on Monday (December 6) it had also received 26 animated feature and 138 documentary feature submissions.
The entire list of international feature film submissions can be viewed here and includes a first submission from Somalia. The Academy said some of the films have not yet had their required qualifying release and must fulfil that requirement and comply with all the category’s other qualifying rules to advance in the voting process.
The Academy has confirmed it has received 93 country submissions for the international feature film category in the run-up to the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022.
The Academy said on Monday (December 6) it had also received 26 animated feature and 138 documentary feature submissions.
The entire list of international feature film submissions can be viewed here and includes a first submission from Somalia. The Academy said some of the films have not yet had their required qualifying release and must fulfil that requirement and comply with all the category’s other qualifying rules to advance in the voting process.
- 12/6/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Animation, documentary submissions also tallied.
The Academy has confirmed it has received 93 country submissions for the international feature film category in the run-up to the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022.
The Academy said on Monday (December 6) it had also received 26 animated feature and 138 documentary feature submissions.
The entire list of international feature film submissions can be viewed here and includes a first submission from Somalia. The Academy said some of the films have not yet had their required qualifying release and must fulfil that requirement and comply with all the category’s other qualifying rules to advance in the voting process.
The Academy has confirmed it has received 93 country submissions for the international feature film category in the run-up to the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022.
The Academy said on Monday (December 6) it had also received 26 animated feature and 138 documentary feature submissions.
The entire list of international feature film submissions can be viewed here and includes a first submission from Somalia. The Academy said some of the films have not yet had their required qualifying release and must fulfil that requirement and comply with all the category’s other qualifying rules to advance in the voting process.
- 12/6/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has debuted the trailer for the spin-off mini-series ‘Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story.’
Showman or con man? The shocking truth behind Doc Antle’s eccentric, animal-loving facade finally emerges in these three episodes chronicling his lifelong abuses of power.
A lifelong showman, Doc Antle has built his various careers on theatrics, attracting a slew of admirers along the way. But beneath the eccentric, animal-loving facade lies a predator far more dangerous than his beloved big cats and a man shadier than any of his Tiger King counterparts. Over three episodes, Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story unpacks the truth about Doc, as witnesses come forward to share their troubling stories of abuse and intimidation that set him at the top of the food chain.
Also in trailers – Trailer for documentary ‘Ailey’ drops
The docu-miniseries hits Netflix on December 10th. Trailer!
The post Astonishing new trailer drops for Netflix...
Showman or con man? The shocking truth behind Doc Antle’s eccentric, animal-loving facade finally emerges in these three episodes chronicling his lifelong abuses of power.
A lifelong showman, Doc Antle has built his various careers on theatrics, attracting a slew of admirers along the way. But beneath the eccentric, animal-loving facade lies a predator far more dangerous than his beloved big cats and a man shadier than any of his Tiger King counterparts. Over three episodes, Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story unpacks the truth about Doc, as witnesses come forward to share their troubling stories of abuse and intimidation that set him at the top of the food chain.
Also in trailers – Trailer for documentary ‘Ailey’ drops
The docu-miniseries hits Netflix on December 10th. Trailer!
The post Astonishing new trailer drops for Netflix...
- 12/6/2021
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Dogwoof has debuted a trailer for the documentary on visionary dance artist ‘Ailey.’
Alvin Ailey was a visionary artist who found salvation through dance. Directed by Jamila Wignot, the celebrated documentary is an immersive profile of ground-breaking and influential choreographer, founder of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The documentary captures the brilliant and enigmatic man who, when confronted by a world that refused to embrace him, was determined to build one that would.
A sensorial, archival-rich story that traces the full contours of this extraordinary artist’s biography and connects his past to our present with an intimate glimpse into the Ailey studios today, where we follow innovative hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris as he conceives a new dance inspired by Ailey’s life.
Using never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life, we experience Ailey’s astonishing journey in his words.
Also in trailers – “The future is unwritten…...
Alvin Ailey was a visionary artist who found salvation through dance. Directed by Jamila Wignot, the celebrated documentary is an immersive profile of ground-breaking and influential choreographer, founder of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The documentary captures the brilliant and enigmatic man who, when confronted by a world that refused to embrace him, was determined to build one that would.
A sensorial, archival-rich story that traces the full contours of this extraordinary artist’s biography and connects his past to our present with an intimate glimpse into the Ailey studios today, where we follow innovative hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris as he conceives a new dance inspired by Ailey’s life.
Using never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life, we experience Ailey’s astonishing journey in his words.
Also in trailers – “The future is unwritten…...
- 12/2/2021
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The International Documentary Association came out with its shortlist of the year’s best documentaries today, a list as notable for what was left out as what made it in.
A total of 29 feature films earned a spot on the IDA shortlist, including some considered Oscar frontrunners: Summer of Soul, Ascension, and Flee—each of which earned nominations last week for both the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards and the Gotham Awards. But several other films making a strong bid for Oscar attention were snubbed, among them The Rescue, Becoming Cousteau, Attica, Procession, and My Name Is Pauli Murray.
The IDA gave recognition to several documentaries with an international dimension, like Faya Dayi, from Mexican-Ethiopian director Jessica Bashir, Chinese-born filmmaker Nanfu Wang’s Covid-19-related doc In The Same Breath, and Miguel’s War, the story of a gay Lebanese man who exiles himself to Spain. The IDA-shortlisted President focuses on...
A total of 29 feature films earned a spot on the IDA shortlist, including some considered Oscar frontrunners: Summer of Soul, Ascension, and Flee—each of which earned nominations last week for both the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards and the Gotham Awards. But several other films making a strong bid for Oscar attention were snubbed, among them The Rescue, Becoming Cousteau, Attica, Procession, and My Name Is Pauli Murray.
The IDA gave recognition to several documentaries with an international dimension, like Faya Dayi, from Mexican-Ethiopian director Jessica Bashir, Chinese-born filmmaker Nanfu Wang’s Covid-19-related doc In The Same Breath, and Miguel’s War, the story of a gay Lebanese man who exiles himself to Spain. The IDA-shortlisted President focuses on...
- 10/25/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
(Editor’s Note: IndieWire’s coverage of the 2021 IDA Documentary Screening Series is presented by the Amazon Original Documentaries “Val” and “My Name is Pauli Murray.“)
IndieWire and International Documentary Association have again partnered for the organization’s annual Screening Series, which will take place virtually, in addition to select screenings in various venues in Los Angeles including the Hollywood Legion Theater and the Landmark Theatre in West LA. Following the screenings, IndieWire will be posting written and video coverage of moderated Q&As featuring filmmakers and subjects.
“IDA is proud to present a thoughtful selection of films that represent a multiplicity of voices, perspectives, and styles,” said IDA Director Rick Perez. “Our inclusive curatorial approach reflects our values and commitment to recognizing the role that the documentary form plays in helping audiences better understand the world around them.”
Theatrical screenings are as follows.
“The Rescue” (Hollywood Legion Theater), Monday,...
IndieWire and International Documentary Association have again partnered for the organization’s annual Screening Series, which will take place virtually, in addition to select screenings in various venues in Los Angeles including the Hollywood Legion Theater and the Landmark Theatre in West LA. Following the screenings, IndieWire will be posting written and video coverage of moderated Q&As featuring filmmakers and subjects.
“IDA is proud to present a thoughtful selection of films that represent a multiplicity of voices, perspectives, and styles,” said IDA Director Rick Perez. “Our inclusive curatorial approach reflects our values and commitment to recognizing the role that the documentary form plays in helping audiences better understand the world around them.”
Theatrical screenings are as follows.
“The Rescue” (Hollywood Legion Theater), Monday,...
- 9/7/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
A feature-length documentary about the legacy of “Reading Rainbow,” the beloved children’s show featuring LeVar Burton, is in production now from non-fiction studio Xtr called “Butterfly in the Sky.”
The “Reading Rainbow” film is named for the iconic theme song for the series, which ran for 26 years beginning in 1983 and picked up 26 Emmys and a Peabody Award throughout its run.
LeVar Burton himself, who hosted the program during its run and helped make it a classroom staple, sat down for new interviews with the filmmakers to discuss the show’s legacy. And in the vein of recent nostalgia-driven documentaries such as “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” and “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story,” “Butterfly in the Sky” will also cobble together archival footage and new interviews with broadcasters, educators and filmmakers who have all been involved with “Reading Rainbow” over the past 30 years.
“Reading Rainbow” has...
The “Reading Rainbow” film is named for the iconic theme song for the series, which ran for 26 years beginning in 1983 and picked up 26 Emmys and a Peabody Award throughout its run.
LeVar Burton himself, who hosted the program during its run and helped make it a classroom staple, sat down for new interviews with the filmmakers to discuss the show’s legacy. And in the vein of recent nostalgia-driven documentaries such as “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” and “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story,” “Butterfly in the Sky” will also cobble together archival footage and new interviews with broadcasters, educators and filmmakers who have all been involved with “Reading Rainbow” over the past 30 years.
“Reading Rainbow” has...
- 9/2/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Xtr — the documentary studio behind titles including Hulu’s Homeroom and Neon’s Ailey — is getting into podcasting with new division Xtr Radio.
The division will launch with the documentary deep-dive show Human Drama Thing, hosted by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker This American Life contributor Davy Rothbart and Kcrw’s David Weinberg. Set to premiere this fall, the series will delve into titles like Paris is Burning, Roger & Me and Wild, Wild Country with Oscar-winning filmmakers, doc fanatics and subjects.
“As a lifelong documentary junkie, making a podcast where we can take a magnifying glass to our all-time favorite docs — and ...
The division will launch with the documentary deep-dive show Human Drama Thing, hosted by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker This American Life contributor Davy Rothbart and Kcrw’s David Weinberg. Set to premiere this fall, the series will delve into titles like Paris is Burning, Roger & Me and Wild, Wild Country with Oscar-winning filmmakers, doc fanatics and subjects.
“As a lifelong documentary junkie, making a podcast where we can take a magnifying glass to our all-time favorite docs — and ...
- 8/27/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Xtr — the documentary studio behind titles including Hulu’s Homeroom and Neon’s Ailey — is getting into podcasting with new division Xtr Radio.
The division will launch with the documentary deep-dive show Human Drama Thing, hosted by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker This American Life contributor Davy Rothbart and Kcrw’s David Weinberg. Set to premiere this fall, the series will delve into titles like Paris is Burning, Roger & Me and Wild, Wild Country with Oscar-winning filmmakers, doc fanatics and subjects.
“As a lifelong documentary junkie, making a podcast where we can take a magnifying glass to our all-time favorite docs — and ...
The division will launch with the documentary deep-dive show Human Drama Thing, hosted by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker This American Life contributor Davy Rothbart and Kcrw’s David Weinberg. Set to premiere this fall, the series will delve into titles like Paris is Burning, Roger & Me and Wild, Wild Country with Oscar-winning filmmakers, doc fanatics and subjects.
“As a lifelong documentary junkie, making a podcast where we can take a magnifying glass to our all-time favorite docs — and ...
- 8/27/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Photo: ‘Annette’/Amazon Throughout 2021 thus far we have had a number of good, some may even say great films premiere on the silver screen; ‘Pig’, ‘The Green Knight’, ‘The Mitchell’s vs. The Machines’, ‘Ailey’, all films worthy of the acclaim levied upon them. However, upon reflection, these are all somewhat straightforward films - This is to say that, both narratively and figuratively, they are exactly what they present, you need not search for an intermediate meaning concealed within the lines of dialogue. What you see is what you get; there is certainly nothing wrong with this sentiment, but finally, today, ‘Annette’ irrevocably denies that classification as it masterfully demonstrates an eloquent understanding and usage of metaphor. Related article: ‘In the Heights’ – Behind the Scenes and Full Commentary/Reactions from Cast & Crew Related article: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase: “The Importance of Venice Film Festival as the...
- 8/10/2021
- by Tyler Sear
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Anyone who has studied theater and dance will know the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and its founder. Not only did Ailey form a dance movement, but his company also became a pioneering force for Black artists as they traveled the world, introducing political themes and helping integrate the world of dance.
Street dancer-turned-choreographer Rennie Harris had heard the name but didn’t become interested in the Ailey movement until late in the 2000s. “I was a hardcore dancer. At that point, I wasn’t feeling modern dance,” Harris explains.
Now the two are linked through the doc “Ailey,” which will be released nationwide Aug. 6. The film highlights the legendary choreographer’s life and visionary work, with Harris interpreting his dances.
It was when Harris finally saw the trailblazing “Revelations,” the 1960s work that put Ailey on the map, that he became inspired. Later, he was hired by the Alvin Ailey...
Street dancer-turned-choreographer Rennie Harris had heard the name but didn’t become interested in the Ailey movement until late in the 2000s. “I was a hardcore dancer. At that point, I wasn’t feeling modern dance,” Harris explains.
Now the two are linked through the doc “Ailey,” which will be released nationwide Aug. 6. The film highlights the legendary choreographer’s life and visionary work, with Harris interpreting his dances.
It was when Harris finally saw the trailblazing “Revelations,” the 1960s work that put Ailey on the map, that he became inspired. Later, he was hired by the Alvin Ailey...
- 8/6/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
This review of “Ailey” was first published after its premiere at January’s Sundance Film Festival.
A firm believer in what he called “blood memories,” everything that choreographer extraordinaire Alvin Ailey did, he charged with intentionality; the joy and pain of those before him influenced his artistry from the inside out. The American dance legend, a pioneer in making the Black experience part of the art form, gets a thorough and evocative documentary — if still veiled about his personal life — in director Jamila Wignot’s “Ailey,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Audio, and occasionally video, from interviews with Ailey chronicle his earliest years as child of the Great Depression in Texas. His hazy voice comes through as if narrating from the distant past. Illustrative footage from the time, even if not always portraying Ailey himself, places him as a part of a the greater stream of...
A firm believer in what he called “blood memories,” everything that choreographer extraordinaire Alvin Ailey did, he charged with intentionality; the joy and pain of those before him influenced his artistry from the inside out. The American dance legend, a pioneer in making the Black experience part of the art form, gets a thorough and evocative documentary — if still veiled about his personal life — in director Jamila Wignot’s “Ailey,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Audio, and occasionally video, from interviews with Ailey chronicle his earliest years as child of the Great Depression in Texas. His hazy voice comes through as if narrating from the distant past. Illustrative footage from the time, even if not always portraying Ailey himself, places him as a part of a the greater stream of...
- 8/5/2021
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Photo: ‘Ailey’/Neon It was a rainy evening in Western Manhattan as I walked toward the Lincoln Center to see the new Documentary film ‘Ailey’ Directed by Jamila Wignot. It was one of those evenings where the sun has just barely set below the horizon and the last streaks of light shoot out like bolts of lightning over the ever-darkening sky. As the sun fades, however, a darkness invades, overtaking the beauty of the evening twilight with dark, dreary tentacles of an oncoming storm. Rain began to fall on my shoulders as I turned down 65th street rapidly propelling me to refuge beneath the awning of the Film at Lincoln Center marquee. As I stopped to fish my ticket out of my pocket I looked overhead at the murky sky, veins of grey seeping into what was once a beautiful evening vista. Related article: ‘In the Heights’ – Behind the Scenes...
- 8/1/2021
- by Tyler Sear
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
By Glenn Dunks
Dance is such a physical art. It is a beautiful medium, of course, but one that doesn’t always allow for great documentaries about it. Watching it can be a divine experience, but to get into the nuts and bolts of the craft is difficult. A trio of new documentaries highlight these strengths and weaknesses. All three put their focus on black dancers, and all have strong queer themes as they navigate a creative space emerging through the pain of racism and the AIDS epidemic. Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters by Rosalynde LeBlanc and Tom Hurwitz, Jamila Wignot’s Ailey, and Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra by Wayne Blair and Nel Minchin each highlight the bodies and the stories. But it’s the former about the iconic titular choreographer and one of his most famous works that best captures the athleticism,...
Dance is such a physical art. It is a beautiful medium, of course, but one that doesn’t always allow for great documentaries about it. Watching it can be a divine experience, but to get into the nuts and bolts of the craft is difficult. A trio of new documentaries highlight these strengths and weaknesses. All three put their focus on black dancers, and all have strong queer themes as they navigate a creative space emerging through the pain of racism and the AIDS epidemic. Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters by Rosalynde LeBlanc and Tom Hurwitz, Jamila Wignot’s Ailey, and Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra by Wayne Blair and Nel Minchin each highlight the bodies and the stories. But it’s the former about the iconic titular choreographer and one of his most famous works that best captures the athleticism,...
- 7/29/2021
- by Glenn Dunks
- FilmExperience
In new documentary Ailey, the acclaimed public persona and troubled private life of the dance icon are explored
When Jamila Wignot was a sophomore at Wellesley College, the Black student group on campus scored tickets to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Wignot had no expectations. A financial aid kid, she was just grateful for the night out.
But as Ailey’s dancers defied gravity, she felt herself lean in, transfixed by the drama of everyday life captured through their movements.
When Jamila Wignot was a sophomore at Wellesley College, the Black student group on campus scored tickets to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Wignot had no expectations. A financial aid kid, she was just grateful for the night out.
But as Ailey’s dancers defied gravity, she felt herself lean in, transfixed by the drama of everyday life captured through their movements.
- 7/26/2021
- by Alexandra Villarreal
- The Guardian - Film News
M. Night Shyamalan’s self-financed “Old” is the director’s seventh film to open at #1. It made $16.5 million, about 40 percent of the openings earned by his last two films “Glass” and “Split.”
That 40 percent also reflects this weekend’s overall performance (about $66 million) compared to 2019 ($163 million). That reduces the rolling four-weekend comparison to 52 percent, down from 58 percent last week.
“Old,” made for a thrifty $18 million (before marketing costs), will likely be a financial winner for the director. Unlike other Universal genre titles, this one will not have an early PVOD release. Since the public probably isn’t aware of that decision, it’s possible that the presumption of early home viewing contributed to what is Shyamalan’s lowest-grossing opener. Increased Covid anxieties may also be a factor.
The other wide debut, “Snake Eyes,” opened to $13.25 million. It’s an origin film starring Henry Golding from Paramount’s “G.I. Joe” franchise...
That 40 percent also reflects this weekend’s overall performance (about $66 million) compared to 2019 ($163 million). That reduces the rolling four-weekend comparison to 52 percent, down from 58 percent last week.
“Old,” made for a thrifty $18 million (before marketing costs), will likely be a financial winner for the director. Unlike other Universal genre titles, this one will not have an early PVOD release. Since the public probably isn’t aware of that decision, it’s possible that the presumption of early home viewing contributed to what is Shyamalan’s lowest-grossing opener. Increased Covid anxieties may also be a factor.
The other wide debut, “Snake Eyes,” opened to $13.25 million. It’s an origin film starring Henry Golding from Paramount’s “G.I. Joe” franchise...
- 7/25/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
In Ailey the body in motion serves as a canvas. Arms twisting, heads swaying, torsos rolling and feet tapping the floors conjure wells of emotion — pain, lust, sadness and joy. Directed by Jamila Wignot, this stunning documentary chronicles the rich life of Alvin Ailey, the American dance giant, choreographer and founder of the innovative Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Wignot handles details of the legend’s tumultuous biography with great care, honoring his talents while acknowledging the toll they took on him. But perhaps the greatest gift of this tightly conceived and beautiful doc lies in its appreciation of the ...
- 7/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Neon has nabbed North American rights to Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s “One Second.”
The film, written by Zhang and Zou Jingzhi and starring Wei Fan and Xiaochuan Li, is adapted from a novel about a man who escapes a labor camp for a glimpse of his daughter. Zhang had called “One Second,” set during China’s 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, his personal tribute to cinema. It’s scheduled as TIFF’s closing night film.
“One Second” debuted last November in China, where it grossed $12 million at the box office. The film arrived on the big screen after being plagued by censorship problems. It was yanked from competition at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival due to “technical reasons,” though many speculated its removal from the lineup was politically motivated.
The Academy Award-nominated Zhang, one of China’s most recognizable filmmakers,...
The film, written by Zhang and Zou Jingzhi and starring Wei Fan and Xiaochuan Li, is adapted from a novel about a man who escapes a labor camp for a glimpse of his daughter. Zhang had called “One Second,” set during China’s 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, his personal tribute to cinema. It’s scheduled as TIFF’s closing night film.
“One Second” debuted last November in China, where it grossed $12 million at the box office. The film arrived on the big screen after being plagued by censorship problems. It was yanked from competition at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival due to “technical reasons,” though many speculated its removal from the lineup was politically motivated.
The Academy Award-nominated Zhang, one of China’s most recognizable filmmakers,...
- 7/20/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Neon has picked up U.S. rights to hot Cannes title “The Worst Person in the World,” directed by Norwegian writer-director Joachim Trier, from French sales agent mk2 Films.
The romantic comedy, which is playing in competition, rounds out Trier’s Oslo Trilogy, which began with “Reprise” in 2006 and continued with “Oslo, August 31st” in 2011.
The script was co-written by Trier with regular collaborator Eskil Vogt, and the film stars Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum, Hans Olav Brenner, Helene Bjøreby, and Vidar Sandem.
“The Worst Person in The World” tells the story of a quest for love and meaning in contemporary Oslo. It chronicles four years in the life of Julie (Reinsve), a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.
Following its July 8 premiere in Cannes,...
The romantic comedy, which is playing in competition, rounds out Trier’s Oslo Trilogy, which began with “Reprise” in 2006 and continued with “Oslo, August 31st” in 2011.
The script was co-written by Trier with regular collaborator Eskil Vogt, and the film stars Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum, Hans Olav Brenner, Helene Bjøreby, and Vidar Sandem.
“The Worst Person in The World” tells the story of a quest for love and meaning in contemporary Oslo. It chronicles four years in the life of Julie (Reinsve), a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.
Following its July 8 premiere in Cannes,...
- 7/16/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy and Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
After offering up our picks for the best films of the first half of the year, we enter the second half with a strong release slate. Arriving this July is a stellar set of documentaries, a few promising wide releases, new films from some of the century’s most prolific directors, and much more. Check out my picks below.
15. Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) (Arie and Chuko Esiri)
Before an eventual Criterion release, Janus Films will bow the debut feature by Nigerian-raised, New York-educated twins Arie and Chuko Esiri, which recently played at Berlinale, New Directors/New Films, and more. David Katz said in his review, “Fatih Akin’s The Edge of Heaven and Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express have been directly cited by the filmmakers as inspirations for Eyimofe, and I would also mention Amores Perros for its interleaving structure and top-to-bottom dissection of a megalopolis, teeming with...
15. Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) (Arie and Chuko Esiri)
Before an eventual Criterion release, Janus Films will bow the debut feature by Nigerian-raised, New York-educated twins Arie and Chuko Esiri, which recently played at Berlinale, New Directors/New Films, and more. David Katz said in his review, “Fatih Akin’s The Edge of Heaven and Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express have been directly cited by the filmmakers as inspirations for Eyimofe, and I would also mention Amores Perros for its interleaving structure and top-to-bottom dissection of a megalopolis, teeming with...
- 7/1/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Chicago –The City of Chicago’s influence as a Film Town is one of its greatest strengths. Doc10, a ten documentary film fest mostly at the Northside’s Davis Theater, opens Thursday, June 17th, 2021. For information on the line-up and tickets, click here.
The opening film will be at the ChiTown drive-in, and will be the Sundance Festival sensation “The Summer of Soul” (capsule review below). Click on any title, either in the capsules or in this paragraph, for ticket and description information. The line up includes ”In the Same Breath”, ”Ailey”, ”My Name is Pauli Murray”, ”Pray Away”, ”Sabaya” and the Closing Night film, ”Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain”.
Summer of Soul
Photo credit: Doc10.org
The Doc10 Film Festival launched in 2016 to bring premieres of ten highly curated documentary films to Chicago in a neighborhood setting, as an extension of the work of Chicago Media Project (Cmp...
The opening film will be at the ChiTown drive-in, and will be the Sundance Festival sensation “The Summer of Soul” (capsule review below). Click on any title, either in the capsules or in this paragraph, for ticket and description information. The line up includes ”In the Same Breath”, ”Ailey”, ”My Name is Pauli Murray”, ”Pray Away”, ”Sabaya” and the Closing Night film, ”Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain”.
Summer of Soul
Photo credit: Doc10.org
The Doc10 Film Festival launched in 2016 to bring premieres of ten highly curated documentary films to Chicago in a neighborhood setting, as an extension of the work of Chicago Media Project (Cmp...
- 6/17/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Exclusive: Documentary+, the non-fiction streaming service established by studio Xtr, is to share viewership data with its filmmakers, potentially becoming the first digital platform to reveal ratings.
The move is an interesting one given the often nebulous data put out by many of the more established streamers. Netflix has started to release some data for hit titles over their first 28 days, but generally only if they do particularly or surprisingly well, while many of the others release vague statements of success.
Alongside the news that it will share data with its filmmakers, the service revealed that between January and May, its top performing title on the service was Western, a documentary about life at the border of Mexico and Texas directed by Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross, followed by Cartel Land and The Imposter.
It will give filmmakers information including a gender identity breakdown, age range, which platform, such as Roku,...
The move is an interesting one given the often nebulous data put out by many of the more established streamers. Netflix has started to release some data for hit titles over their first 28 days, but generally only if they do particularly or surprisingly well, while many of the others release vague statements of success.
Alongside the news that it will share data with its filmmakers, the service revealed that between January and May, its top performing title on the service was Western, a documentary about life at the border of Mexico and Texas directed by Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross, followed by Cartel Land and The Imposter.
It will give filmmakers information including a gender identity breakdown, age range, which platform, such as Roku,...
- 6/14/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
As one of the most iconic figures in dance history, Alvin Ailey changed the face of modern dance with his own style of choreography that centered on the Black experience. Audiences will now have the opportunity to delve deeper into his illustrious career and equally impactful personal life in the new documentary Ailey.
Directed by Jamila Wignot, Ailey highlights so many of the essential works of Ailey’s career, including his creation of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and as a mentor to generations of gifted, Black entertainers and activists. Wignot employs voice recordings from Ailey towards the end of his life as a way of creating a deeper portrait, one exploring his relationship with his mother and own sexuality (he died of AIDS-related complications in 1989). Ailey premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released by Neon on July 23, and ahead of a stop at Tribeca, the first trailer has arrived.
Directed by Jamila Wignot, Ailey highlights so many of the essential works of Ailey’s career, including his creation of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and as a mentor to generations of gifted, Black entertainers and activists. Wignot employs voice recordings from Ailey towards the end of his life as a way of creating a deeper portrait, one exploring his relationship with his mother and own sexuality (he died of AIDS-related complications in 1989). Ailey premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released by Neon on July 23, and ahead of a stop at Tribeca, the first trailer has arrived.
- 5/31/2021
- by Stephen Hladik
- The Film Stage
Exclusive: Neon and Bleecker Street have formed the joint home entertainment distribution company Decal.
The standalone full-service operation, which is a joint venture between the two film labels, will handle distribution deals on the home entertainment rights to both Neon and Bleecker Street’s curated slate of features and will be overseen by Neon’s Andrew Brown and Bleecker’s Kent Sanderson.
In the current climate and upheaval in the film business, Decal will also be in the market of acquiring third-party content, offering an option for independent filmmakers to optimize the transactional window with both distributors’ strategic partnerships.
I’m told that Neon and Bleecker Street will handle their own costs, and reap their own revenues and profits on their respective titles. When it comes to handling third party content, each will pool resources and share in the returns.
The first Decal release will be Bleecker Street’s Supernova,...
The standalone full-service operation, which is a joint venture between the two film labels, will handle distribution deals on the home entertainment rights to both Neon and Bleecker Street’s curated slate of features and will be overseen by Neon’s Andrew Brown and Bleecker’s Kent Sanderson.
In the current climate and upheaval in the film business, Decal will also be in the market of acquiring third-party content, offering an option for independent filmmakers to optimize the transactional window with both distributors’ strategic partnerships.
I’m told that Neon and Bleecker Street will handle their own costs, and reap their own revenues and profits on their respective titles. When it comes to handling third party content, each will pool resources and share in the returns.
The first Decal release will be Bleecker Street’s Supernova,...
- 2/11/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
With nearly every feature film at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival reviewed, it’s time to wrap up the first major cinema event of the year. We already got the official jury and audience winners here, and now it’s time to highlight our favorites.
One will find our picks (in alphabetical order) to keep on your radar, followed by the rest of our reviews. Check out everything below and stay tuned to our site, and specifically Twitter, for acquisition and release date news on the below films in the coming months.
Ailey (Jamila Wignot)
Has any choreographer mattered more to American dance than Alvin Ailey? The documentary Ailey, directed by Jamila Wignot, makes a good case that there has not. Comprised of amazing archival footage, peer interviews, and choreographer Rennie Harris prepping a modern-day performance in honor of the artist, Wignot paints a full picture of a complicated man. Born...
One will find our picks (in alphabetical order) to keep on your radar, followed by the rest of our reviews. Check out everything below and stay tuned to our site, and specifically Twitter, for acquisition and release date news on the below films in the coming months.
Ailey (Jamila Wignot)
Has any choreographer mattered more to American dance than Alvin Ailey? The documentary Ailey, directed by Jamila Wignot, makes a good case that there has not. Comprised of amazing archival footage, peer interviews, and choreographer Rennie Harris prepping a modern-day performance in honor of the artist, Wignot paints a full picture of a complicated man. Born...
- 2/8/2021
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
While we’ve seen a race in Hollywood to option a fictionalized version of the Reddit traders who rocked Wall Street with their investing in the “meme stock” GameStop, a new documentary is also in the works about the online traders on Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets.
The documentary studios Xtr and The Optimist are developing a feature documentary film about the ongoing “short squeeze movement,” which over the last few days has caused GameStop stock prices to surge and send more traditional hedge funds that were shorting the stock into a panic.
The untitled documentary film was in part funded by a Kickstarter campaign and is already undergoing interviews with key players of the movement, even as the story continues to unfold.
The Optimist’s Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci, who are known for last year’s immigration documentary “Five Years North,” will direct the film about how the GameStop...
The documentary studios Xtr and The Optimist are developing a feature documentary film about the ongoing “short squeeze movement,” which over the last few days has caused GameStop stock prices to surge and send more traditional hedge funds that were shorting the stock into a panic.
The untitled documentary film was in part funded by a Kickstarter campaign and is already undergoing interviews with key players of the movement, even as the story continues to unfold.
The Optimist’s Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci, who are known for last year’s immigration documentary “Five Years North,” will direct the film about how the GameStop...
- 2/5/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
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Documentary filmmaking is often a scrappy enterprise — at its core, all you really need is a camera and a desire to tell a story. In the case of at least eight of the filmmakers whose documentaries were a part of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, it’s one camera in particular.
Their gear of choice? The Canon Eos C300 Mark II, which was used for the U.S. Documentary Competition entries “Ailey,” “At the Ready,” “Cusp,” and “Rebel Hearts,” World Cinema Documentary Competition entry “Sabaya”; Next entry “Searchers”; and premieres “Philly D.A.” and “My Name Is Pauli Murray.” Of course, the camera body you use is only one part of the equation — the lenses...
Documentary filmmaking is often a scrappy enterprise — at its core, all you really need is a camera and a desire to tell a story. In the case of at least eight of the filmmakers whose documentaries were a part of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, it’s one camera in particular.
Their gear of choice? The Canon Eos C300 Mark II, which was used for the U.S. Documentary Competition entries “Ailey,” “At the Ready,” “Cusp,” and “Rebel Hearts,” World Cinema Documentary Competition entry “Sabaya”; Next entry “Searchers”; and premieres “Philly D.A.” and “My Name Is Pauli Murray.” Of course, the camera body you use is only one part of the equation — the lenses...
- 2/5/2021
- by Jean Bentley
- Indiewire
With a streamer smashing the all-time sales record and an at-home program that was genuinely exciting, the success of the virtual Sundance Film Festival marked a move forward for an industry that has long resisted change. But the streaming-centric festival was by no means a nail in the coffin for the theatrical experience: Traditional distributors have been active, a vote of confidence in the continued importance of brick-and-mortar cinemas.
Aside from Apple’s $25 million record acquisition of “Coda,” every other deal announced since the festival began last Thursday was from a theatrical distributor. And while the biggest yet-to-close deals will see the buzziest films land at streamers, that’s simply a continuation of a pre-pandemic state of affairs where Netflix, Amazon, and Apple set the price for the most commercially appealing titles.
At this Sundance, theatrical buyers’ willingness to act quick in response to their instincts and early buzz was a winning strategy.
Aside from Apple’s $25 million record acquisition of “Coda,” every other deal announced since the festival began last Thursday was from a theatrical distributor. And while the biggest yet-to-close deals will see the buzziest films land at streamers, that’s simply a continuation of a pre-pandemic state of affairs where Netflix, Amazon, and Apple set the price for the most commercially appealing titles.
At this Sundance, theatrical buyers’ willingness to act quick in response to their instincts and early buzz was a winning strategy.
- 2/3/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
CAA has signed documentarian Jamila Wignot, who recently premiered her latest Ailey at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
Wignot previously directed the Peabody, Emmy, and NAACP award-winning PBS miniseries African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. Her prior credits include the Peabody Award-winning Triangle Fire and and the Emmy-nominated episode Walt Whitman from PBS’ American Experience series.
As a producer, she has worked on W. Kamau Bell’s Bring the Pain and Musa Syeed’s 2018 indie feature A Stray.
Ailey, which explores dancer Alvin Ailey’s life and his connection to the dance company that still bears his name, was acquired by Neon out of Sundance.
Wignot previously directed the Peabody, Emmy, and NAACP award-winning PBS miniseries African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. Her prior credits include the Peabody Award-winning Triangle Fire and and the Emmy-nominated episode Walt Whitman from PBS’ American Experience series.
As a producer, she has worked on W. Kamau Bell’s Bring the Pain and Musa Syeed’s 2018 indie feature A Stray.
Ailey, which explores dancer Alvin Ailey’s life and his connection to the dance company that still bears his name, was acquired by Neon out of Sundance.
If, like me (and many others), you’ve seen performances by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and found them to be spellbinding but know relatively little about the man himself, a documentary like “Ailey” sounds like manna from heaven: a chance to immerse yourself in the life of a singular dance titan — to discover who he was as a human being and as a master builder of modern American movement. Yet “Ailey,” directed by Jamila Wignot, doesn’t always answer the questions you expect it to.
We learn about how Ailey, born in 1931, spent his early years in Texas, raised by a single mother (he never knew his father) with little money or direction; they wandered, and when he was a kid he picked cotton. Wignot uses black-and-white archival footage to evoke what the Texas childhood of a rural African-American during the Depression might have looked like, and the...
We learn about how Ailey, born in 1931, spent his early years in Texas, raised by a single mother (he never knew his father) with little money or direction; they wandered, and when he was a kid he picked cotton. Wignot uses black-and-white archival footage to evoke what the Texas childhood of a rural African-American during the Depression might have looked like, and the...
- 2/3/2021
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
The mostly virtual 2021 Sundance Film Festival is coming to a close. The festival announced awards winners Tuesday night, trading an in-person ceremony for one broadcast live and hosted by Patton Oswalt. The biggest winner was Sian Heder’s coming of age drama “Coda,” which earned four U.S. Dramatic Competition awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. Other Big winners were “Summer of Soul,” which took home the two top U.S. Documentary awards.
Blerta Basholli’s “Hive” won three awards in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition: the Directing and Audience awards and the Grand Jury Prize. Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh’s “Writing with Fire” earned two World Cinema Documentary awards.
A total of 72 features screened over the last week, along with 50 shorts, four Indie Series, and 14 New Frontier VR/new media projects. Those projects were judged by a jury made up of Zeynep Atakan, Raúl Castillo,...
Blerta Basholli’s “Hive” won three awards in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition: the Directing and Audience awards and the Grand Jury Prize. Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh’s “Writing with Fire” earned two World Cinema Documentary awards.
A total of 72 features screened over the last week, along with 50 shorts, four Indie Series, and 14 New Frontier VR/new media projects. Those projects were judged by a jury made up of Zeynep Atakan, Raúl Castillo,...
- 2/3/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
The 2021 Sundance Film Festival is off to one of the fastest, most acquisition-heavy starts in history — with lots of presales, big buzz around documentaries and one record-shattering $25 million sale so far. “The market is going strong and films are selling faster and sooner this year,” one top sales agent told TheWrap. “That’s partly the result of the efficiency of the festival, where we can screen the films quicker for buyers. The number of people we get to screen films for is so much higher and it’s faster and easier.” “It’s going really well,” Josh Braun, co-founder of the hybrid sales, production and distribution company Submarine, told TheWrap. “At any normal Sundance, you often get to Sunday night and you evaluate what the market looks like and, traditionally, you feel like this dam is about to burst and all the announcements come Monday and Tuesday. This year, it’s different,...
- 2/1/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
When choosing cameras and lenses, nonfiction filmmakers are not only guided by the look, feel, and cinematic language they want to employ, but also by what their production demands and resources allow. Which is why in answering the question of why they picked the gear they used to shoot their Sundance nonfiction feature premieres, this year’s crop of cinematographers and directors also tell us how they shot their movies — the challenges and choices, as well as their cinematic styles.
Check out our survey of this year’s narrative features right here.
The following films from the U.S. Documentary Competition, World Documentary Competition, and Premieres appear in alphabetical order by title.
“Ailey”
Section: U.S. Documentary Competition
Dir: Jamila Wignot, DoP: Naiti Gámez
Format: 4k
Camera: Canon c300 mkII & Canon c300 mkIII
Lens: Canon Cn-e Cine primes; Cn-E30-105mm zoom & L-series lenses.
Gámez: We wanted nimble and affordable...
Check out our survey of this year’s narrative features right here.
The following films from the U.S. Documentary Competition, World Documentary Competition, and Premieres appear in alphabetical order by title.
“Ailey”
Section: U.S. Documentary Competition
Dir: Jamila Wignot, DoP: Naiti Gámez
Format: 4k
Camera: Canon c300 mkII & Canon c300 mkIII
Lens: Canon Cn-e Cine primes; Cn-E30-105mm zoom & L-series lenses.
Gámez: We wanted nimble and affordable...
- 2/1/2021
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Has any choreographer mattered more to American dance than Alvin Ailey? The documentary Ailey, directed by Jamila Wignot, makes a good case that there has not. Comprised of amazing archival footage, peer interviews, and choreographer Rennie Harris prepping a modern-day performance in honor of the artist, Wignot paints a full picture of a complicated man. Born in the middle of Texas during The Great Depression, old recordings of Ailey recount his picking cotton with his mother (his father was non-existent in his life), then later on seeing Katherine Dunham (and her male backup dancers) perform live. The shock of watching somebody that looked like him produce such wonderful art emboldened him to pursue the work himself.
The structure of the film is fairly standard, utilizing all of its tools to walk through the timeline of the artist’s life; from his childhood, through his eventual arrival in New York City...
The structure of the film is fairly standard, utilizing all of its tools to walk through the timeline of the artist’s life; from his childhood, through his eventual arrival in New York City...
- 2/1/2021
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Neon has made its second acquisition of the Sundance Film Festival with Jamila Wignot’s Ailey, about dance legend Alvin Ailey.
The film debuted at the festival yesterday in the U.S. Documentary Competition section. The documentary explores Ailey’s life and his connection to the present dance company that bears his name with never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life and rare dance performances by the Ailey Company. Ailey found salvation through dance and he pioneered choreography centering on African American experiences. He endured racism and homophobia; addiction and mental illness.
Darcy Heusel, Neon’s Head of Impact and Audience Engagement, remarked “Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is...
The film debuted at the festival yesterday in the U.S. Documentary Competition section. The documentary explores Ailey’s life and his connection to the present dance company that bears his name with never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life and rare dance performances by the Ailey Company. Ailey found salvation through dance and he pioneered choreography centering on African American experiences. He endured racism and homophobia; addiction and mental illness.
Darcy Heusel, Neon’s Head of Impact and Audience Engagement, remarked “Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is...
- 2/1/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
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