This week Pov spotlights the collaboration between Princess Shaw and Kutiman in a documentary called Presenting Princess Shaw. Samantha Montgomery works as a caregiver to seniors in a deprived part of New Orleans but finds her creative outlet via songs she records and posts on YouTube as Princess Shaw. She gets a few hits and views but it more about personal expression and satisfaction. But we live in a very interconnected world and by chance Israeli video artist Kutiman spots some of her tracks. He posts musical mashup videos on his Thru You channel and gets millions of views. He...read more...
- 7/17/2017
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
Awards season keeps ticking right along, but tonight’s Cinema Eye Honors promised at least a tiny respite from narrative-based filmmaking, as the New York City-set ceremony is all about honoring the best in the year’s documentary filmmaking.
Big winners included Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson,” which picked up Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking, along with editing and cinematography wins. Right behind it was Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America,” which earned Edelman a directing win, along with a production win for Edelman and Caroline Waterlow. Best TV offering went to “Making a Murderer.”
Nominations were lead by Raoul Peck’s “I Am Not Your Negro” and “O.J.: Made in America,” which each pulled in five nominations apiece, though Johnson’s “Cameraperson” and Gianfranco Rosi’s “Fire at Sea” aren’t far behind, with four nominations each. Both Peck and Rosi’s features ultimately walked away without an award.
Big winners included Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson,” which picked up Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking, along with editing and cinematography wins. Right behind it was Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America,” which earned Edelman a directing win, along with a production win for Edelman and Caroline Waterlow. Best TV offering went to “Making a Murderer.”
Nominations were lead by Raoul Peck’s “I Am Not Your Negro” and “O.J.: Made in America,” which each pulled in five nominations apiece, though Johnson’s “Cameraperson” and Gianfranco Rosi’s “Fire at Sea” aren’t far behind, with four nominations each. Both Peck and Rosi’s features ultimately walked away without an award.
- 1/12/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
91 songs were recently named as being eligible for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, including three from Damien Chazelle’s musical “La La Land” and high-profile tunes by the likes of Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake and Sia. We’ll know which five are ultimately nominated on January 24. In the meantime, avail yourself of this Spotify playlist featuring 70 of the eligible songs — and the full list of all 91.
Read More: 2017 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Song
Read More: Oscar Best Score Contenders: The Inside Story of Creating 5 Diverse Frontrunners
“Just Like Fire” from “Alice through the Looking Glass”
“Rise” from “American Wrestler: The Wizard”
“Friends” from “The Angry Birds Movie”
“Flicker” from “Audrie & Daisy”
“Seconds” from “Autumn Lights”
“A Minute To Breathe” from “Before the Flood”
“Glory (Let There Be Peace)” from “Believe”
“Mother’s Theme” from “Believe”
“Somewhere” from “Believe”
“The Only Way Out” from “Ben-Hur”
“Still Falling For You...
Read More: 2017 Oscar Predictions: Best Original Song
Read More: Oscar Best Score Contenders: The Inside Story of Creating 5 Diverse Frontrunners
“Just Like Fire” from “Alice through the Looking Glass”
“Rise” from “American Wrestler: The Wizard”
“Friends” from “The Angry Birds Movie”
“Flicker” from “Audrie & Daisy”
“Seconds” from “Autumn Lights”
“A Minute To Breathe” from “Before the Flood”
“Glory (Let There Be Peace)” from “Believe”
“Mother’s Theme” from “Believe”
“Somewhere” from “Believe”
“The Only Way Out” from “Ben-Hur”
“Still Falling For You...
- 1/3/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
More than three decades later, “The Times of Harvey Milk” is still earning accolades. Rob Ebstein’s 1984 documentary about the life and assassination of California’s first openly gay elected official is set to receive the 2017 Legacy Award at the 10th Annual Cinema Eye Honors, which will take place next month.
Read More: Cinema Eye Names Top Documentaries and Directors of the Past Decade
Epstein will be present for a screening of his documentary on Tuesday, January 10 at the Museum of the Moving Image; the Honors Lunch takes place the following day. Milk’s life also served as the basis of Gus Van Sant’s 2008 biopic “Milk,” which starred Sean Penn in the title role alongside James Franco and Josh Brolin.
Read More: Oscars 2017: Best Documentary Shortlist Announced, Led by ‘O.J.: Made in America,’ ‘Cameraperson’ and ‘Weiner’
10 filmmakers and 20 films were named to Cinema Eye’s List of Essential Nonfiction earlier this year,...
Read More: Cinema Eye Names Top Documentaries and Directors of the Past Decade
Epstein will be present for a screening of his documentary on Tuesday, January 10 at the Museum of the Moving Image; the Honors Lunch takes place the following day. Milk’s life also served as the basis of Gus Van Sant’s 2008 biopic “Milk,” which starred Sean Penn in the title role alongside James Franco and Josh Brolin.
Read More: Oscars 2017: Best Documentary Shortlist Announced, Led by ‘O.J.: Made in America,’ ‘Cameraperson’ and ‘Weiner’
10 filmmakers and 20 films were named to Cinema Eye’s List of Essential Nonfiction earlier this year,...
- 12/14/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Academy brass on Tuesday announced the roster of songs that will advance to the nominations stage for the 89th Academy Awards.
The original songs and the film in which each is featured are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:
Just Like Fire from Alice through The Looking Glass
Rise from American Wrestler: The Wizard
Friends from The Angry Birds Movie
Flicker from Audrie & Daisy
Seconds from Autumn Lights
A Minute To Breathe from Before The Flood
Glory (Let There Be Peace) from Believe
Mother’s Theme from Believe
Somewhere from Believe
The Only Way Out from Ben-Hur
Still Falling For You from Bridget Jones’s Baby
That from The Bronze
Torch Pt. 2 from Citizen Soldier
Drift And Fall Again from Criminal
Take Me Down from Deepwater Horizon
Land Of All from Desierto
Sad But True (Dreamland Theme) from Dreamland
Angel By The Wings from The Eagle Huntress
Blind Pig from Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them...
The original songs and the film in which each is featured are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:
Just Like Fire from Alice through The Looking Glass
Rise from American Wrestler: The Wizard
Friends from The Angry Birds Movie
Flicker from Audrie & Daisy
Seconds from Autumn Lights
A Minute To Breathe from Before The Flood
Glory (Let There Be Peace) from Believe
Mother’s Theme from Believe
Somewhere from Believe
The Only Way Out from Ben-Hur
Still Falling For You from Bridget Jones’s Baby
That from The Bronze
Torch Pt. 2 from Citizen Soldier
Drift And Fall Again from Criminal
Take Me Down from Deepwater Horizon
Land Of All from Desierto
Sad But True (Dreamland Theme) from Dreamland
Angel By The Wings from The Eagle Huntress
Blind Pig from Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them...
- 12/13/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced the 91 tunes eligible to compete for this year’s Best Original Songs, including three from “La La Land” alone. The most recent award went to “Writing’s on the Wall” from “Spectre,” the second consecutive James Bond film to be so honored; Adele won for “Skyfall” in 2012.
Read: ‘La La Land’: Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s ‘City of Stars’ Duet Will Sweep You Off Your Feet – Listen
This tends to be one of the Academy Awards’ more inclusive categories, often going to movies that get little or no other attention on Oscar night: Other recent winners and nominees include selections from “Frozen,” “The Muppets” and “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The final nominees will be announced on January 24. Full list below:
Read More: ‘Jackie’ Soundtrack: Stream Mica Levi’s Powerful, Haunting Score
“Just Like Fire” from “Alice through the Looking Glass...
Read: ‘La La Land’: Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling’s ‘City of Stars’ Duet Will Sweep You Off Your Feet – Listen
This tends to be one of the Academy Awards’ more inclusive categories, often going to movies that get little or no other attention on Oscar night: Other recent winners and nominees include selections from “Frozen,” “The Muppets” and “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The final nominees will be announced on January 24. Full list below:
Read More: ‘Jackie’ Soundtrack: Stream Mica Levi’s Powerful, Haunting Score
“Just Like Fire” from “Alice through the Looking Glass...
- 12/13/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
The nominees for the 10th annual Cinema Eye Honors have been announced, with “I Am Not Your Negro” and “Oj: Made in America” both receiving five each. They’re followed in short order by “Cameraperson” and “Fire at Sea,” which along with “Weiner” are all in contention for the top prize. A total of 37 features and five shorts will be in contention at the upcoming ceremony, which “Hoop Dreams” director Steve James will host from the Museum of the Moving Image on January 11. Here’s the full list of nominees:
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
“Cameraperson” (Kirsten Johnson)
“Fire at Sea” (Gianfranco Rosi)
“I Am Not Your Negro” (Raoul Peck)
“Oj: Made in America” (Ezra Edelman)
“Weiner” (Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg)
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Kirsten Johnson, “Cameraperson”
Gianfranco Rosi, “Fire at Sea”
Raoul Peck, “I Am Not Your Negro”
Robert Greene, “Kate Plays Christine”
Ezra Edelman, “Oj:...
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
“Cameraperson” (Kirsten Johnson)
“Fire at Sea” (Gianfranco Rosi)
“I Am Not Your Negro” (Raoul Peck)
“Oj: Made in America” (Ezra Edelman)
“Weiner” (Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg)
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Kirsten Johnson, “Cameraperson”
Gianfranco Rosi, “Fire at Sea”
Raoul Peck, “I Am Not Your Negro”
Robert Greene, “Kate Plays Christine”
Ezra Edelman, “Oj:...
- 11/2/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
A total of 145 feature documentaries were submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for consideration for the 89th Academy Awards.
Out of those films the members of the Academy’s documentary branch will select a shortlist of 15 features that will be announced in December, and the five nominations will be announced on January 24.
Read More: Documentary, Now: Three Rock Stars Who Run the Fast-Changing Non-Fiction World
Among the titles included in the list are Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” the Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize winner “Weiner” by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, Raoul Peck’s Toronto Film Festival Audience Award winner “I Am Not Your Negro,” the visually stunning “Voyage of Time: The Imax Experience” by Terrence Malik and Otto Bell’s “The Eagle Huntress.”
Read More: Oscars 2017: 10 Documentary Shorts Vie for Nominations
This year Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees’ film “Amy” about British singer Amy Winehouse...
Out of those films the members of the Academy’s documentary branch will select a shortlist of 15 features that will be announced in December, and the five nominations will be announced on January 24.
Read More: Documentary, Now: Three Rock Stars Who Run the Fast-Changing Non-Fiction World
Among the titles included in the list are Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” the Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize winner “Weiner” by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, Raoul Peck’s Toronto Film Festival Audience Award winner “I Am Not Your Negro,” the visually stunning “Voyage of Time: The Imax Experience” by Terrence Malik and Otto Bell’s “The Eagle Huntress.”
Read More: Oscars 2017: 10 Documentary Shorts Vie for Nominations
This year Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees’ film “Amy” about British singer Amy Winehouse...
- 10/29/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
The Academy will announce its list of Oscar-eligible documentaries this week, a field that counted just 82 entries in 2005; last year, there were 124. And along with this growth comes a new attribute for the much-admired/often ignored genre: Power.
Under Sheila Nevins, HBO led the way in showing how documentaries could draw audiences with nonfiction programming that’s skillful, dynamic, and relevant. Under Lisa Nishimura, Netflix upped the ante with deep-pocketed algorithms that not only proved audiences craved this content (after all, documentaries are the original reality TV), but also guided exactly where those viewers could be found, and what they wanted to see. And while social justice has always been the bailiwick of documentary filmmakers, Diane Weyermann at Participant has given that niche the financing and clout it deserves.
While their business models differ, they’re all producing documentaries that might not otherwise exist, making them better and getting them seen.
Under Sheila Nevins, HBO led the way in showing how documentaries could draw audiences with nonfiction programming that’s skillful, dynamic, and relevant. Under Lisa Nishimura, Netflix upped the ante with deep-pocketed algorithms that not only proved audiences craved this content (after all, documentaries are the original reality TV), but also guided exactly where those viewers could be found, and what they wanted to see. And while social justice has always been the bailiwick of documentary filmmakers, Diane Weyermann at Participant has given that niche the financing and clout it deserves.
While their business models differ, they’re all producing documentaries that might not otherwise exist, making them better and getting them seen.
- 10/24/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Academy will announce its list of Oscar-eligible documentaries this week, a field that counted just 82 entries in 2005; last year, there were 124. And along with this growth comes a new attribute for the much-admired/often ignored genre: Power.
Under Sheila Nevins, HBO led the way in showing how documentaries could draw audiences with nonfiction programming that’s skillful, dynamic, and relevant. Under Lisa Nishimura, Netflix upped the ante with deep-pocketed algorithms that not only proved audiences craved this content (after all, documentaries are the original reality TV), but also guided exactly where those viewers could be found, and what they wanted to see. And while social justice has always been the balliwick of documentary filmmakers, Diane Weyermann at Participant has given that niche the financing and clout it deserves.
While their business models differ, they’re all producing documentaries that might not otherwise exist, making them better and getting them seen.
Under Sheila Nevins, HBO led the way in showing how documentaries could draw audiences with nonfiction programming that’s skillful, dynamic, and relevant. Under Lisa Nishimura, Netflix upped the ante with deep-pocketed algorithms that not only proved audiences craved this content (after all, documentaries are the original reality TV), but also guided exactly where those viewers could be found, and what they wanted to see. And while social justice has always been the balliwick of documentary filmmakers, Diane Weyermann at Participant has given that niche the financing and clout it deserves.
While their business models differ, they’re all producing documentaries that might not otherwise exist, making them better and getting them seen.
- 10/24/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Cinema Eye, the organization that recognizes outstanding craft and artistry in nonfiction filmmaking, has announced their annual list of The Unforgettables, designed to highlight “this year’s most notable and significant nonfiction film subjects.” This is Cinema Eye’s tenth anniversary year, and the fourth straight year that they have unveiled their list of Unforgettables, which IndieWire is very happy to exclusively reveal below.
The Unforgettables list aims to celebrate the year’s most exciting collaborations between filmmakers and their subjects, and it’s hard to imagine a list more representative of that ideal than this one. Standouts include director Kirsten Johnson of “Cameraperson,” actress Kate Sheil of “Kate Plays Christine,” subject Sharon Jones of “Miss Sharon Jones!” and both Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner from the revealing feature “Weiner.” And that’s just the start of a list that’s wonderfully representative of some of this year’s most indelible doc subjects.
The Unforgettables list aims to celebrate the year’s most exciting collaborations between filmmakers and their subjects, and it’s hard to imagine a list more representative of that ideal than this one. Standouts include director Kirsten Johnson of “Cameraperson,” actress Kate Sheil of “Kate Plays Christine,” subject Sharon Jones of “Miss Sharon Jones!” and both Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner from the revealing feature “Weiner.” And that’s just the start of a list that’s wonderfully representative of some of this year’s most indelible doc subjects.
- 10/19/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Los Angeles, CA (October 10, 2016) . The Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja) have announced the nominees for the inaugural Critics. Choice Documentary Awards. The winners will be presented their awards at a gala event on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at Bric, in Brooklyn, New York.
.It is an amazing time for documentaries, with the ever-increasing number of platforms enabling producers to reach enthusiastic and growing audiences for non-fiction storytelling,. said Bfca and Btja President Joey Berlin.
.This is clearly demonstrated in the depth and quality of our inaugural nominees. We have a wealth of brilliant creators who are bringing to light some of the most entertaining and illuminating stories being told today. Indeed, documentary filmmaking is modern investigative journalism. We look forward to celebrating all these fine and important achievements at the first Critics. Choice Documentary Awards gala on November 3rd..
13th, 30 For 30: O.J.: Made in America...
.It is an amazing time for documentaries, with the ever-increasing number of platforms enabling producers to reach enthusiastic and growing audiences for non-fiction storytelling,. said Bfca and Btja President Joey Berlin.
.This is clearly demonstrated in the depth and quality of our inaugural nominees. We have a wealth of brilliant creators who are bringing to light some of the most entertaining and illuminating stories being told today. Indeed, documentary filmmaking is modern investigative journalism. We look forward to celebrating all these fine and important achievements at the first Critics. Choice Documentary Awards gala on November 3rd..
13th, 30 For 30: O.J.: Made in America...
- 10/11/2016
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja) have announced the nominees for their inaugural Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, taking place next month at a first-time gala event in Brooklyn, New York. Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America” and Clay Tweel’s “Gleason” lead the pack of nominees, with five nominations each. Other nominees include Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson,” the gob-smacking “Weiner” and recent Netflix features “Amanda Knox” and “Audrie & Daisy.”
“It is an amazing time for documentaries, with the ever-increasing number of platforms enabling producers to reach enthusiastic and growing audiences for non-fiction storytelling,” said Bfca and Btja President Joey Berlin. “This is clearly demonstrated in the depth and quality of our inaugural nominees. We have a wealth of brilliant creators who are bringing to light some of the most entertaining and illuminating stories being told today. Indeed, documentary filmmaking is modern investigative journalism.
“It is an amazing time for documentaries, with the ever-increasing number of platforms enabling producers to reach enthusiastic and growing audiences for non-fiction storytelling,” said Bfca and Btja President Joey Berlin. “This is clearly demonstrated in the depth and quality of our inaugural nominees. We have a wealth of brilliant creators who are bringing to light some of the most entertaining and illuminating stories being told today. Indeed, documentary filmmaking is modern investigative journalism.
- 10/10/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
While best documentary conversations start to take shape in January at the Sundance Film Festival, making the transition from rapturous festival play to awards-season contender is a harrowing road. A documentary must be truly extraordinary to make the final Oscar five.
The number of Sundance docs with awards potential is breathtaking: Breaking out of Sundance 2016 were U.S. Grand Jury Prize winner “Weiner” (IFC), an entertaining portrait of a politician brought down by his weakness for sexting, which turned into a summer hit; U.S. Documentary Directing Award winner “Life, Animated” (The Orchard), a moving portrait of an autistic child who grows up with Disney movies; and HBO’s Audience Award winner “Jim: The James Foley Story.”
Scoring great reviews were Ezra Edelman’s five-part movie “O.J.: Made in America” (Espn), an exhaustive examination of O.J. Simpson and race relations in Los Angeles from the ’60s through the Trial of...
The number of Sundance docs with awards potential is breathtaking: Breaking out of Sundance 2016 were U.S. Grand Jury Prize winner “Weiner” (IFC), an entertaining portrait of a politician brought down by his weakness for sexting, which turned into a summer hit; U.S. Documentary Directing Award winner “Life, Animated” (The Orchard), a moving portrait of an autistic child who grows up with Disney movies; and HBO’s Audience Award winner “Jim: The James Foley Story.”
Scoring great reviews were Ezra Edelman’s five-part movie “O.J.: Made in America” (Espn), an exhaustive examination of O.J. Simpson and race relations in Los Angeles from the ’60s through the Trial of...
- 9/23/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Documentary festival announces winners.
Cameraperson, a documentary about the career of cinematographer Kirsten Johnson, has won the grand jury award at Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 10-15).
Johnson, who also directs the film, is the Us cinematographer behind Laura Poitras’ Oscar-winning Edward Snowden doc Citizenfour and Kirby Dick’s The Invisible War among many others.
The award, supported by Screen International and Broadcast, comes with a cash prize of £2,000 ($2,800).
The jury described the film as “a work that´s both expansive and intimate, formally ambitious and morally humble”.
“Though this filmmaker has travelled the world to tell others stories, her real...
Cameraperson, a documentary about the career of cinematographer Kirsten Johnson, has won the grand jury award at Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 10-15).
Johnson, who also directs the film, is the Us cinematographer behind Laura Poitras’ Oscar-winning Edward Snowden doc Citizenfour and Kirby Dick’s The Invisible War among many others.
The award, supported by Screen International and Broadcast, comes with a cash prize of £2,000 ($2,800).
The jury described the film as “a work that´s both expansive and intimate, formally ambitious and morally humble”.
“Though this filmmaker has travelled the world to tell others stories, her real...
- 6/14/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Chicago – Had you told a person 50 years ago that someday we would be able to personally record television and broadcast it to the whole world, they might have laughed and said maybe on the futuristic cartoon “The Jetsons.” But the future is now, and it lives in “Presenting Princess Shaw.”
Rating: 4.0/5.0
The documentary chronicles the miracle of the modern age, with a working class woman from New Orleans publishing her “a capella” songs on YouTube, and a musician/artist in Israel finding those songs, and giving them full orchestration – by soliciting other musicians on the world wide web. The film is basically about the miracle of this, and how it affects everyone who is involved in the process. But it is especially about Princess Shaw – the stage name of Samantha Montgomery – who sits in a threadbare apartment with a talent and a dream, and then having that dream fulfilled. It is much about the life and philosophy of this remarkable woman that shines through, as much as the show business phenomenon.
Samantha Montgomery (stage name, Princess Shaw) works as a care-giver in a New Orleans facility. Like many people in the age of connectivity, she spends her down time putting up original songs on YouTube, sung soulfully without accompaniment. There are very few “hits” on her page, save for one very important one. In Israel, there is a musican/artist named Kutiman (Ophir Kutiel), and he is interested in presenting Princess Shaw.
Kutiman specializes in recruiting musicians from all over the world, through the internet, to participate in giving full orchestration to Samantha’s songs, and prepares them while Samantha is being profiled by director Ido Haar. Princess Shaw is unaware that her world is about to break open, with her fully produced music about to infiltrate the atmosphere, a gift from a far-away land.
“Presenting Princess Shaw” is available for digital download, and a profile of Samantha Montgomery, by HollywoodChicago.com, is available by clicking here. In the age of technological miracles, the best ones happen to the most unlikely people.
”Presenting Princess Shaw” continued its limited release in Chicago on June 10th, and is available via digital download. Check local listings for show times and theaters, plus online digital providers for availability. Featuring Samantha Montgomery and Ophir Kutiel (Kutiman). Directed by Ido Haar. Not Rated. For an example of Kutiman’s handiwork with Samantha Montgomery, click here.
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Presenting Princess Shaw”
Samantha Montgomery in ‘Presenting Princess Shaw’
Photo credit: Magnolia Pictures
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Presenting Princess Shaw”...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
The documentary chronicles the miracle of the modern age, with a working class woman from New Orleans publishing her “a capella” songs on YouTube, and a musician/artist in Israel finding those songs, and giving them full orchestration – by soliciting other musicians on the world wide web. The film is basically about the miracle of this, and how it affects everyone who is involved in the process. But it is especially about Princess Shaw – the stage name of Samantha Montgomery – who sits in a threadbare apartment with a talent and a dream, and then having that dream fulfilled. It is much about the life and philosophy of this remarkable woman that shines through, as much as the show business phenomenon.
Samantha Montgomery (stage name, Princess Shaw) works as a care-giver in a New Orleans facility. Like many people in the age of connectivity, she spends her down time putting up original songs on YouTube, sung soulfully without accompaniment. There are very few “hits” on her page, save for one very important one. In Israel, there is a musican/artist named Kutiman (Ophir Kutiel), and he is interested in presenting Princess Shaw.
Kutiman specializes in recruiting musicians from all over the world, through the internet, to participate in giving full orchestration to Samantha’s songs, and prepares them while Samantha is being profiled by director Ido Haar. Princess Shaw is unaware that her world is about to break open, with her fully produced music about to infiltrate the atmosphere, a gift from a far-away land.
“Presenting Princess Shaw” is available for digital download, and a profile of Samantha Montgomery, by HollywoodChicago.com, is available by clicking here. In the age of technological miracles, the best ones happen to the most unlikely people.
”Presenting Princess Shaw” continued its limited release in Chicago on June 10th, and is available via digital download. Check local listings for show times and theaters, plus online digital providers for availability. Featuring Samantha Montgomery and Ophir Kutiel (Kutiman). Directed by Ido Haar. Not Rated. For an example of Kutiman’s handiwork with Samantha Montgomery, click here.
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Presenting Princess Shaw”
Samantha Montgomery in ‘Presenting Princess Shaw’
Photo credit: Magnolia Pictures
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Presenting Princess Shaw”...
- 6/13/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Tasters of the films in competition at this week’s Sheffield Doc/Fest.
Click here to see the full competition line-ups.
Opening FilmWhere To Invade Next - Michael Moore Grand JuryJim: The James Foley Story - Brian Oakes Brothers - Wojciech Staron The Settlers - Shimon Dotan Bobby Sands: 66 Days - Brendan J Byrne Presenting Princess Shaw - Ido Haar City 40 - Samira Goetschel Tempestad - Tatiana Huezo The Land of the Enlightened - Pieter-Jan De Pue Notes On Blindness - Peter Middleton, James Spinney Environmental JurySeed: The Untold Story - Taggart Siegel, Jon Betz Kivalina - Gina Abatemarco Freightened - The Real Price of Shipping - Denis Delestrac...
Click here to see the full competition line-ups.
Opening FilmWhere To Invade Next - Michael Moore Grand JuryJim: The James Foley Story - Brian Oakes Brothers - Wojciech Staron The Settlers - Shimon Dotan Bobby Sands: 66 Days - Brendan J Byrne Presenting Princess Shaw - Ido Haar City 40 - Samira Goetschel Tempestad - Tatiana Huezo The Land of the Enlightened - Pieter-Jan De Pue Notes On Blindness - Peter Middleton, James Spinney Environmental JurySeed: The Untold Story - Taggart Siegel, Jon Betz Kivalina - Gina Abatemarco Freightened - The Real Price of Shipping - Denis Delestrac...
- 6/9/2016
- ScreenDaily
Chicago – There are show business stories, and then there are show business miracles. In the tech age we’re living through, the needle-in-a-haystack hope that a song, video or rant will go “viral” online is part of the experience. Singer Samantha Montgomery was one such singer, and her story is in “Presenting Princess Shaw.”
The new documentary, directed by Ido Haar, tells a story of two disparate people. On one side of the world is Samantha “Princess Shaw” Montgomery, a working class warrior in New Orleans, who fills her lonely hours by creating original “a capella” songs on her YouTube channel. On the other side is Kutiman (Ophir Kutiel), an Israeli musician whose specialty is gathering other music artists on YouTube and collaborating with them (online) to create original works. When Kutiman stumbled across Princess Shaw (Montgomery’s stage name), suddenly a new star was about to be born. The...
The new documentary, directed by Ido Haar, tells a story of two disparate people. On one side of the world is Samantha “Princess Shaw” Montgomery, a working class warrior in New Orleans, who fills her lonely hours by creating original “a capella” songs on her YouTube channel. On the other side is Kutiman (Ophir Kutiel), an Israeli musician whose specialty is gathering other music artists on YouTube and collaborating with them (online) to create original works. When Kutiman stumbled across Princess Shaw (Montgomery’s stage name), suddenly a new star was about to be born. The...
- 6/7/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit the interwebs. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (Michael Bay)
For better or worse, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is the purest distillation of Michael Bay’s cinematic voice. Bay’s favorite themes recur here from his brand of cheerleading GI Joe patriotism to righteous bloodlust to endlessly off-color non-sequiturs. And years of carpet bombing criticism targeted at his continued lack of political correctness and subtlety have...
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (Michael Bay)
For better or worse, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is the purest distillation of Michael Bay’s cinematic voice. Bay’s favorite themes recur here from his brand of cheerleading GI Joe patriotism to righteous bloodlust to endlessly off-color non-sequiturs. And years of carpet bombing criticism targeted at his continued lack of political correctness and subtlety have...
- 5/27/2016
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Memorial weekend launches the counterprogramming season for the specialties. Distributors hoping to skim off audiences looking for fare not dished out by the studio tentpoles will find a plethora of documentaries this weekend. Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media are opening Presenting Princess Shaw, which was a big crowdpleaser on the festival circuit. The film will open in theaters as well as various on-demand platforms. Oscar winner D.A. Pennebaker and nominee Chris…...
- 5/27/2016
- Deadline
Even though Presenting Princess Shaw isn’t a film about filmmaking, you can’t help wondering about the logistics of its creation considering director Ido Haar is listed as the project’s sole cinematographer. The story of Princess (Samantha Montgomery) and Kutiman (Ophir Kutiel) focuses on music and the internet creating a community of disparate strangers miles away from one another with an ever-present potential for collaboration between them. We watch Samantha live her life in New Orleans as a nurse attending open mic nights while curating a deeply personal YouTube diary to push her drive to be heard. We also meet Kutiman in Israel tirelessly scouring the web for clips, melodies, and notes he can merge into original compositions. Their individual paths gradually move towards an inspirationally powerful collision.
But how does it work? Is everything cut in real time? These were the questions rifling through my mind despite...
But how does it work? Is everything cut in real time? These were the questions rifling through my mind despite...
- 5/25/2016
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Online, she goes by Princess Shaw, but Samantha Montgomery’s story is nothing short of an inspiring rise from struggling nurse to YouTube viral sensation. Her rise to fame is...
- 5/20/2016
- by Jazz Tangcay
- AwardsDaily.com
Competition titles revealed; retrospectives of Ken Loach and Chantal Akerman; speakers include HBO documentaries president Sheila Nevins and revered filmmaker Da Pennebaker. Scroll down for competition films
Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 10-15) has unveiled the programme for its 23rd edition, including 160 feature and short documentaries, an alternate realities line-up and a series of on-stage interviews and debates with major filmmakers and industry figures.
As previously announced, Michael Moore’s Where To Invade Next will open the festival with the Us documentarian in attendance at Doc/Fest for the first time since 1998.
The UK premiere and Q&A will be live streamed to 114 cinemas across the UK through distributor Dogwoof. It marks the second time Doc/Fest has streamed its opening, following Pulp: A Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets in 2014.
There are a total of 27 world premieres, 15 international, 19 European and 52 UK premieres with documentaries from 49 countries including Mexico, Cuba, China and Peru.
Competition titles...
Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 10-15) has unveiled the programme for its 23rd edition, including 160 feature and short documentaries, an alternate realities line-up and a series of on-stage interviews and debates with major filmmakers and industry figures.
As previously announced, Michael Moore’s Where To Invade Next will open the festival with the Us documentarian in attendance at Doc/Fest for the first time since 1998.
The UK premiere and Q&A will be live streamed to 114 cinemas across the UK through distributor Dogwoof. It marks the second time Doc/Fest has streamed its opening, following Pulp: A Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets in 2014.
There are a total of 27 world premieres, 15 international, 19 European and 52 UK premieres with documentaries from 49 countries including Mexico, Cuba, China and Peru.
Competition titles...
- 5/5/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Competition titles revealed; retrospectives of Ken Loach and Chantal Akerman; speakers include HBO documentaries president Sheila Nevins and legendary filmmaker Da Pennebaker.Scroll down for competition films
Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 10-15) has unveiled the programme for its 23rd edition, including 160 feature and short documentaries, an alternate realities line-up and a series of on-stage interviews and debates with major filmmakers and industry figures.
As previously announced, Michael Moore’s Where To Invade Next will open the festival with the Us documentarian in attendance at Doc/Fest for the first time since 1998.
The UK premiere and Q&A will be live streamed to 114 cinemas across the UK through distributor Dogwoof. It marks the second time Doc/Fest has streamed its opening, following Pulp: A Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets in 2014.
There are a total of 27 world premieres, 15 international, 19 European and 52 UK premieres with documentaries from 49 countries including Mexico, Cuba, China and Peru.
Competition titles...
Sheffield Doc/Fest (June 10-15) has unveiled the programme for its 23rd edition, including 160 feature and short documentaries, an alternate realities line-up and a series of on-stage interviews and debates with major filmmakers and industry figures.
As previously announced, Michael Moore’s Where To Invade Next will open the festival with the Us documentarian in attendance at Doc/Fest for the first time since 1998.
The UK premiere and Q&A will be live streamed to 114 cinemas across the UK through distributor Dogwoof. It marks the second time Doc/Fest has streamed its opening, following Pulp: A Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets in 2014.
There are a total of 27 world premieres, 15 international, 19 European and 52 UK premieres with documentaries from 49 countries including Mexico, Cuba, China and Peru.
Competition titles...
- 5/5/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Singer Samantha Montgomery, the subject of documentary Presenting Princess Shaw, was sexually abused as a child. Her advice for fellow sexual abuse survivors is to tell someone, and her advice for loved ones of potential survivors is to pay attention and do something. Samantha Montgomery’s Advice For Sexual Abuse Survivors While trying to make ends meet in […]
The post Samantha Montgomery, ‘Presenting Princess Shaw’ Star, On Being Sexually Abused, Advice For Survivors [Exclusive Video] appeared first on uInterview.
The post Samantha Montgomery, ‘Presenting Princess Shaw’ Star, On Being Sexually Abused, Advice For Survivors [Exclusive Video] appeared first on uInterview.
- 4/14/2016
- by Chelsea Regan
- Uinterview
Samantha Montgomery, like many singers looking for a breakthrough into the industry, posted videos of herself to YouTube in the hopes of being noticed. Unlike many, she was noticed. When Israeli musician Kutiman – real name Ophir Kutiel – heard Montgomery’s song, he decided to take it on as a project. Documentarian Ido Haar captured the modern story […]
The post Samantha Montgomery On ‘Presenting Princess Shaw,’ Being Discovered By Kutiman On YouTube appeared first on uInterview.
The post Samantha Montgomery On ‘Presenting Princess Shaw,’ Being Discovered By Kutiman On YouTube appeared first on uInterview.
- 3/29/2016
- by Chelsea Regan
- Uinterview
Magnolia Pictures has set a theatrical and VOD May 27 release date for the upcoming documentary feature "Presenting Princess Shaw," which looks like a crowd-pleaser about how one woman gets closer to achieving a dream thanks to today's inter-connected world. In short, New Orleans based amateur singer Princess Shaw uploads videos of herself singing to YouTube. Thousands of miles away, Israeli director Ido Haar, claiming to be making a documentary about YouTube singers, actually had other plans. He wanted to see if he could capture how a video goes viral. Fellow YouTube artist from Israel named Kutiman had found one of Princess Shaw's videos and became so...
- 3/22/2016
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: What better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? This week […]
The post This Week In Trailers: Adam Green’s Aladdin, Presenting Princess Shaw, The Idol, The Corpse of Anna Fritz, Wide Open Sky appeared first on /Film.
The post This Week In Trailers: Adam Green’s Aladdin, Presenting Princess Shaw, The Idol, The Corpse of Anna Fritz, Wide Open Sky appeared first on /Film.
- 3/13/2016
- by Christopher Stipp
- Slash Film
Check out the trailer (below) for an upcoming new documentary feature titled "Presenting Princess Shaw," which looks like a crowd-pleaser about how one woman gets closer to achieving a dream thanks to today's inter-connected world. In short, New Orleans based amateur singer Princess Shaw uploads videos of herself singing to YouTube. Thousands of miles away, Israeli director Ido Haar, claiming to be making a documentary about YouTube singers, actually had other plans. He wanted to see if he could capture how a video goes viral. Fellow YouTube artist from Israel named Kutiman had found one of Princess Shaw's videos and became so captivated by her singing, as well as...
- 3/8/2016
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Simply put, the SXSW Film, Music and Interactive Festival is one of the biggest, most prestigious events in the media calendar. Taking place annually in Austin, Texas, it is beloved by film fans and filmmakers from all over the world, and has reached such heights by building a reputation for showcasing excellent content. This results in a high level of competition, with the Narrative Feature category alone having received 1442 submissions this year, and the documentary feature category having received 1,013.
The 2016 event looks to be particularly exciting, with many world premieres and feature debuts already announced. The Narrative Feature category will include Julia Hart’s Miss Stevens, Debra Eisenstadt’s Before The Sun Explodes, Joey Klein’s The Other Half, and Musa Syeed’s A Stray, among others, while the Headliner category will feature Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some.
The Narrative Spotlight category includes 9 Rides by Matthew A. Cherry; The Waiting...
The 2016 event looks to be particularly exciting, with many world premieres and feature debuts already announced. The Narrative Feature category will include Julia Hart’s Miss Stevens, Debra Eisenstadt’s Before The Sun Explodes, Joey Klein’s The Other Half, and Musa Syeed’s A Stray, among others, while the Headliner category will feature Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some.
The Narrative Spotlight category includes 9 Rides by Matthew A. Cherry; The Waiting...
- 2/10/2016
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Istanbul event will host a total of 23 gala screenings, including the latest films from Charlie Kaufman and Jean-Marc Vallee, as well as a David Bowie tribute programme.Scroll down for the full line-up
!f Istanbul Independent Film Festival has revealed its programme for the 2016 edition (February 18-28).
Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa, which premiered at Telluride last year, and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Demolition, which opened the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, will open and close the festival respectively.
!f Istanbul - in its 15th edition - will host screenings, competitions and events dedicated to bringing the best of independent film to the Turkish city.
Other gala presentations will include Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash, Gaspar Noé’s Love 3D, Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room and Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s BAFTA-nominated The Assassin.
In memory of the late musician David Bowie, the festival will show remastered versions of his films The Man Who Fell To Earth and The Hunger...
!f Istanbul Independent Film Festival has revealed its programme for the 2016 edition (February 18-28).
Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa, which premiered at Telluride last year, and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Demolition, which opened the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, will open and close the festival respectively.
!f Istanbul - in its 15th edition - will host screenings, competitions and events dedicated to bringing the best of independent film to the Turkish city.
Other gala presentations will include Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash, Gaspar Noé’s Love 3D, Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room and Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s BAFTA-nominated The Assassin.
In memory of the late musician David Bowie, the festival will show remastered versions of his films The Man Who Fell To Earth and The Hunger...
- 1/29/2016
- ScreenDaily
Find out what made our top 10 films of 2015 - and which films racked up the most mentions from Team Screen.Scroll down for Screen’s overall top 10
Screen’s esteemed critics have had their turn. Now, Screen staff, contributors and correspondents reveal their favourite films of 2015.
Matt Mueller (Editor)
Force Majeure (dir. Ruben Ostlund)Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller)The Look Of Silence (dir. Joshua Oppenheimer)The Revenant (dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)Amy (dir. Asif Kapadia)Sunset Song (dir. Terence Davies)Tangerine (dir. Sean Baker)The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)Anomalisa (dirs. Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman)Michael Rosser (Managing editor)
Son Of Saul (dir. Laszlo Nemes)Star Wars: The Force Awakens (dir. Jj Abrams)Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)Room (dir. Lenny Abrahamson)The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)Inside Out (dirs. Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen)Amy (dir. Asif Kapadia)45 Years (dir. Andrew Haigh)Slow West (dir. John Maclean)[link=tt...
Screen’s esteemed critics have had their turn. Now, Screen staff, contributors and correspondents reveal their favourite films of 2015.
Matt Mueller (Editor)
Force Majeure (dir. Ruben Ostlund)Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller)The Look Of Silence (dir. Joshua Oppenheimer)The Revenant (dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)Amy (dir. Asif Kapadia)Sunset Song (dir. Terence Davies)Tangerine (dir. Sean Baker)The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)Anomalisa (dirs. Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman)Michael Rosser (Managing editor)
Son Of Saul (dir. Laszlo Nemes)Star Wars: The Force Awakens (dir. Jj Abrams)Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland)Room (dir. Lenny Abrahamson)The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)Inside Out (dirs. Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen)Amy (dir. Asif Kapadia)45 Years (dir. Andrew Haigh)Slow West (dir. John Maclean)[link=tt...
- 12/23/2015
- ScreenDaily
Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media have co-acquired all U.S. distribution rights to "Thru You Princess," the crowd-pleasing documentary from Israeli filmmaker Ido Haar. The movie takes a look at the interconnectivity of the YouTube generation and premiered to favorable reviews at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year. The companies last partnered up on "Best of Enemies" over the summer. The documentary follows 38-year-old Samantha Montgomery, a woman who lives alone in one of New Orleans' toughest neighborhoods. A caregiver for the elderly by day, she transforms into Princess Shaw at night, belting out soulful originals at sparsely attended open mic nights and posting homemade a cappella clips on YouTube, usually reaching just a handful of viewers. One of her followers happens to be Kutiman, a.k.a. Ophir Kutiel, an Israeli musician living on a.
- 11/10/2015
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media have co-acquired U.S. rights to Thru You Princess, a documentary by Israeli filmmaker Ido Haar that premiered in the fall at the Toronto Film Festival. The deal comes after Magnolia and Participant teamed for the docu Best Of Enemies about the rivarly between William F Buckley Jr and Gore Vidal. Thru You Princess centers on 38-year-old Samantha Montgomery, who lives alone in one of New Orleans’ toughest neighborhoods. By day, she…...
- 11/10/2015
- Deadline
George Gittoes. Snow Monkey and Bill Guttentag and Michael Ware.s Only the Dead will screen at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (Idfa).
Filmed in Afghanistan in 2014 when foreign forces leave and an internal power struggle begins, Snow Monkey will screen in official competition at the festival which runs November 18-29.
Produced by Lizzette Atkins and Gittoes, the final film in his What the World Needs Now! trilogy premiered at Miff this year and followed the lives of those living in the Yellow House at Jalalabad, a collective of artists, film makers and social revolutionaries as they again face the threat of a Taliban-ruled society. It was funded through Screen Australia's Signature Documentary program.
Only the Dead, which follows Ware, an Australian journalist for CNN and Time Magazine as he journeys through the deepest recesses of the Iraq War, will unspool in the Best of Fests section. Patrick McDonald produced with Ware.
Filmed in Afghanistan in 2014 when foreign forces leave and an internal power struggle begins, Snow Monkey will screen in official competition at the festival which runs November 18-29.
Produced by Lizzette Atkins and Gittoes, the final film in his What the World Needs Now! trilogy premiered at Miff this year and followed the lives of those living in the Yellow House at Jalalabad, a collective of artists, film makers and social revolutionaries as they again face the threat of a Taliban-ruled society. It was funded through Screen Australia's Signature Documentary program.
Only the Dead, which follows Ware, an Australian journalist for CNN and Time Magazine as he journeys through the deepest recesses of the Iraq War, will unspool in the Best of Fests section. Patrick McDonald produced with Ware.
- 10/13/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
George Gittoes’s Snow Monkey (pictured) and Nick Read’s Bolshoi Babylon among the 15 titles in competition.
The 28th Idfa (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam) has unveiled its line-up, including its main competition.
The festival, which runs Nov 18-29, will comprise 319 titles (from 3,425 submissions), 78 of which receive their world premieres at Idfa. A total of 50 Dutch productions are included in the program, spread across the various strands.
A total of 15 films will compete in the Idfa Competition for Feature-Length Documentary, including Tom Fassaert’s A Family Affair, which opens the festival on Nov 18.
The jury, made up of Laurent Bécue-Renard (France), Mahamat Saleh Haroun (Chad), Hanna Polak (Poland), Jonathan Rosenbaum (USA) and Barbara Visser (the Netherlands) will present the Vpro Idfa Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary, a cash prize of €12,500 ($14,000) and the Idfa Special Jury Award for Feature-Length Documentary worth €2,500 ($2,800).
The titles include (synopses provided by Idfa):
Bolshoi Babylon by Nick Read (Russia / UK)
A revealing...
The 28th Idfa (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam) has unveiled its line-up, including its main competition.
The festival, which runs Nov 18-29, will comprise 319 titles (from 3,425 submissions), 78 of which receive their world premieres at Idfa. A total of 50 Dutch productions are included in the program, spread across the various strands.
A total of 15 films will compete in the Idfa Competition for Feature-Length Documentary, including Tom Fassaert’s A Family Affair, which opens the festival on Nov 18.
The jury, made up of Laurent Bécue-Renard (France), Mahamat Saleh Haroun (Chad), Hanna Polak (Poland), Jonathan Rosenbaum (USA) and Barbara Visser (the Netherlands) will present the Vpro Idfa Award for Best Feature-Length Documentary, a cash prize of €12,500 ($14,000) and the Idfa Special Jury Award for Feature-Length Documentary worth €2,500 ($2,800).
The titles include (synopses provided by Idfa):
Bolshoi Babylon by Nick Read (Russia / UK)
A revealing...
- 10/9/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Read More: The 2015 Indiewire Tiff Bible Fifteen years into the new millennium, the personal impact of digital technology is fertile ground for non-fiction. In 2010, Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost's "Catfish" touched on the potential dangers of social media and ambiguous identities they allow; now comes Ido Haar's touching "Thru You Princess," which offers a more upbeat possibility. The movie tracks the efforts of Israeli artist Ophir Kutiel, who goes by the pseudonym Kutiman, as he assembles the "visual symphonies" that have brought him acclaim worldwide. Like the dense overlays of fellow digital media artist Girl Talk, Kutiman strings together existing material into thick, orchestral compositions, exclusively using music he discovers on YouTube. Putting a finer point on the disconnect between source material and its application, Kutiman doesn't let the musicians in on his projects until he publishes the results. "Thru You Princess" tracks...
- 9/16/2015
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Jennifer Peedom.s Sherpa and Gillian Armstrong.s Women He.s Undressed will screen at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival next month.
They are among 26 titles selected for the Tiff Docs section of the fest, which runs from September 10 to 20, enhancing Australia.s profile at the event where Jocelyn Moorhouse.s The Dressmaker will have its world premiere in Gala Presentations and Simon Stone.s The Daughter will have its North American premiere in Special Presentations.
Produced by Bridget Ikin and John Smithson, Peedom.s film chronicles how Sherpas united in grief and anger to reclaim Mount Everest after an icefall killed 15 of their members on Mount Everest.. It will open in Australia in February, co-distributed by John Maynard's Footprint Films and Transmission.
It will be the international premiere of Armstrong.s doc which profiles Australian costume designer Orry-Kelly, who won three Academy Awards.
Among the world premieres...
They are among 26 titles selected for the Tiff Docs section of the fest, which runs from September 10 to 20, enhancing Australia.s profile at the event where Jocelyn Moorhouse.s The Dressmaker will have its world premiere in Gala Presentations and Simon Stone.s The Daughter will have its North American premiere in Special Presentations.
Produced by Bridget Ikin and John Smithson, Peedom.s film chronicles how Sherpas united in grief and anger to reclaim Mount Everest after an icefall killed 15 of their members on Mount Everest.. It will open in Australia in February, co-distributed by John Maynard's Footprint Films and Transmission.
It will be the international premiere of Armstrong.s doc which profiles Australian costume designer Orry-Kelly, who won three Academy Awards.
Among the world premieres...
- 8/11/2015
- by Staff writer
- IF.com.au
The Toronto International Film Festival’s prominence on the festival circuit has only grown over the years, with films from numerous different fields having gone on to critical and commercial acclaim. Among the festival’s different categories are Tiff Docs and Vanguard. Tiff Docs allows documentaries to get their own spotlight at the festival, giving acclaimed documentarians such as Michael Moore and Frederick Wiseman a platform for their films. The Vanguard section, on the other hand, showcases films that aren’t easily categorisable into a specific genre. With the Canadian Films lineup announcement having revealed the first set of films playing in each group, Tiff today revealed more of the lineup in each section. The list of newly announced films, with their official synopses, is as follows.
Tiff Docs
Amazing Grace, directed by Sydney Pollack, making its International Premiere
Sydney Pollack’s film of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Amazing Grace.’ Filmed...
Tiff Docs
Amazing Grace, directed by Sydney Pollack, making its International Premiere
Sydney Pollack’s film of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Amazing Grace.’ Filmed...
- 8/11/2015
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
Organisers unleashed their latest volley of programming, an embarrassment of riches featuring new non-fiction work about education activist Malala Yousafzai, Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre, the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks and the iconic tango pairing of María Nieves and Juan Carlos Copes.
Midnight Madness brings a Turkish glimpse of hell, new work from the directors of Almost Human and The Loved Ones, a cyborg Pov story and Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room, which premiered in Cannes and backer Broad Green Pictures recently made available for Us distribution after electing not to self-release.
Vanguard entries include Gaspar Noé’s Love, Alex de la Iglesia’s My Big Night and Ryoo Seung-wan’s South Korean cop thriller Veteran.
The Masters Of Cinema programme features Jafar Panahi’s Taxi, Alexander Sokurov’s Francofonia and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Our Little Sister, while the Tiff Cinematheque selection of restored classics includes Luchino Viconti’s Rocco And His Brothers and Marcel Ophüls...
Midnight Madness brings a Turkish glimpse of hell, new work from the directors of Almost Human and The Loved Ones, a cyborg Pov story and Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room, which premiered in Cannes and backer Broad Green Pictures recently made available for Us distribution after electing not to self-release.
Vanguard entries include Gaspar Noé’s Love, Alex de la Iglesia’s My Big Night and Ryoo Seung-wan’s South Korean cop thriller Veteran.
The Masters Of Cinema programme features Jafar Panahi’s Taxi, Alexander Sokurov’s Francofonia and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Our Little Sister, while the Tiff Cinematheque selection of restored classics includes Luchino Viconti’s Rocco And His Brothers and Marcel Ophüls...
- 8/11/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Avishai Sivan’s religious drama wins Best Israeli Feature while Hotline scoops Van Leer award for Best Documentary.Scroll down for full list of winners
Avishai Sivan’s drama Tikkun has won Best Israeli Feature at the 32nd Jerusalem Film Festival, which held its awards ceremony last night [July 16] and closes on Sunday.
Tikkun, which follows a committed Hassidic student who begins to doubt himself after a life-changing experience, won the Haggiag Award for Best Israeli Feature Film, which comes with a $31,500 (Ils 120,000) prize.
The film also won the Anat Pirchi Award for Best Script, which comes with a $2,600 (Ils 10,000) prize, the Haggiag Award for Best Actor for lead Khalifa Natour, also accompanied by a $2,600 (Ils 10,000) prize, and the Van Leer Award for Best Cinematography, which scoops $2,400 (Ils 9,000).
The film was directed by Avishai Sivan and produced by Ronen Ben-Tal, Avishai Sivan, Moshe Edery and Leon Edery of Plan B Productions.
Tikkun will also...
Avishai Sivan’s drama Tikkun has won Best Israeli Feature at the 32nd Jerusalem Film Festival, which held its awards ceremony last night [July 16] and closes on Sunday.
Tikkun, which follows a committed Hassidic student who begins to doubt himself after a life-changing experience, won the Haggiag Award for Best Israeli Feature Film, which comes with a $31,500 (Ils 120,000) prize.
The film also won the Anat Pirchi Award for Best Script, which comes with a $2,600 (Ils 10,000) prize, the Haggiag Award for Best Actor for lead Khalifa Natour, also accompanied by a $2,600 (Ils 10,000) prize, and the Van Leer Award for Best Cinematography, which scoops $2,400 (Ils 9,000).
The film was directed by Avishai Sivan and produced by Ronen Ben-Tal, Avishai Sivan, Moshe Edery and Leon Edery of Plan B Productions.
Tikkun will also...
- 7/17/2015
- ScreenDaily
Titles in the Feature and Documentary Film competitions unveiled.Scroll down for full list
The programme of Israeli films at the 35th Jerusalem Film Festival (July 9-19) has been revealed, including Feature and Documentary Film competitions.
The winner of the Haggiag Competition for Isreali Feature Films will take home the biggest prize in any Israeli film competition: $32,000 (120,000 Nis).
Prizes are also awarded for best first feature, actor, actress, cinematography, editing, screenplay, music and the audience choice award, as well as the Van Leer Competition for Israeli Documentary Films.
Other competitions include the International Spirit of Freedom competition and the Jewish Experience competition.
The festival will feature more than 200 Israeli and international films.
Full line-up
Synopses provided by Jerusalem Film Festival
Haggiag Competition for Israeli Feature Films
Tikkun (dir. Avishai Sivan; pro. Ronen Ben-Tal, Avishai Sivan, Moshe Edery, Leon Edery)
Cast: Aharon Traitel, Khalifa Natour, Riki Blich, Gur Sheinberg
Haim-Aharon, a Hassidic yeshiva student, collapses and loses...
The programme of Israeli films at the 35th Jerusalem Film Festival (July 9-19) has been revealed, including Feature and Documentary Film competitions.
The winner of the Haggiag Competition for Isreali Feature Films will take home the biggest prize in any Israeli film competition: $32,000 (120,000 Nis).
Prizes are also awarded for best first feature, actor, actress, cinematography, editing, screenplay, music and the audience choice award, as well as the Van Leer Competition for Israeli Documentary Films.
Other competitions include the International Spirit of Freedom competition and the Jewish Experience competition.
The festival will feature more than 200 Israeli and international films.
Full line-up
Synopses provided by Jerusalem Film Festival
Haggiag Competition for Israeli Feature Films
Tikkun (dir. Avishai Sivan; pro. Ronen Ben-Tal, Avishai Sivan, Moshe Edery, Leon Edery)
Cast: Aharon Traitel, Khalifa Natour, Riki Blich, Gur Sheinberg
Haim-Aharon, a Hassidic yeshiva student, collapses and loses...
- 7/1/2015
- ScreenDaily
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