American Perspectives: Representing the Diversity of the U.S.

The films included in the American Perspectives category showcase the breadth and depth of subjects and storytellers based in the U.S., giving us a snapshot of the state of documentary in 2012. Tickets for all films go on sale to the general public on Friday, Oct. 12.

Making its US premiere is PING PONG, by directors Hugh Hartford and Anson Hartford, about the world competition of over-80s Table Tennis Championships in Inner Mongolia. New York City premieres include FIGHT TO LIVE, by Barbara Kopple, about terminally ill patients challenging the Food and Drug Administration for access to experimental therapies, with Kopple in attendance at the screening; LONG DISTANCE REVOLUTIONARY: A JOURNEY WITH MUMIA ABU-JAMAL, directed by Stephen Vittoria, about imprisoned artist, activist and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, with author and Democracy Now host Juan Gonzalez in attendance; and PERSISTENCE OF VISION, directed by Kevin Schreck,  about the visionary animator Richard Williams.