US PREMIERE The philosopher Slavoj Žižek is a world-class connoisseur of cinema. Here he teams with director Sophie Fiennes to riff on film clips for their ideological implications both overt and hidden. His eclectic associations encompass The Searchers, Jaws, Triumph of the Will, Titanic, M*A*S*H, Loves of a Blonde, and Brazil as he clicks through capitalism, fascism, consumerism, Stalinism, […]
2012 VIEWFINDERS COMPETITION WINNER Director Jamie Meltzer takes a penetrating look at Brandon Darby, a radical activist turned FBI informant who has been both vilified and deified, but never fully understood. Darby was known as a hero of leftwing activists organizing in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but later he allied himself with rightwing forces […]
US PREMIERE Tomi Ungerer rose to prominence in the late 1950s as the creator of acclaimed children’s books—”I dare say, no one was as original,” Maurice Sendak once ventured. Ungerer’s creativity also encompassed iconic 60s protest posters and lavish books of erotica; but when his work was banned, he risked fading into obscurity. This film performs a laudable […]
Like a real-life Friday Night Lights, this emotional film paints an enthralling portrait, whether or not you care about football. Volunteer coach Bill Courtney takes over a beleaguered high school program in urban Memphis where players are more likely to go to jail than to college. Filmmaker Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin follow the team’s season with masterful […]
As the number of routine—and sometimes required—vaccinations greatly increases, so do fears about the unintended consequences. The Greater Good gives a thoughtful analysis to this controversy, weaving together personal stories, in-depth reporting and lively graphics in a style reminiscent of Waiting for Superman. Essential viewing for parents, the film explores the debates over autism, mercury, HPV and more, while taking […]
2011 VIEWFINDERS COMPETITION WINNER Calling to mind Paradise Lost in its quest to re-open a murder conviction, Scenes of a Crime looks at the high-profile case of a child’s death in upstate New York. The filmmakers uncover troubling video footage from a 10-hour police interrogation that led to a disputed confession. Winner of the Full Frame Grand Jury […]
In a hilarious Borat-style experiment, director Vikram Gandhi poses as a guru, complete with a team of young, lithe female assistants, to make a point about blind faith. But the line between what’s fake and what’s real gets blurry when he attracts loyal followers hanging on his every word. As he gets more deeply involved with his disciples, […]
US PREMIERE For six years, Colombian guerrillas held Ingrid Betancourt as a hostage in the jungle while supporters around the world campaigned for her release. Director Angus MacQueen gains remarkable access to Betancourt to uncover the mystery of what she endured during those years. The film also gives a suspenseful account of the daring rescue effort that set […]
WORLD PREMIERE By turning a bizarre motif into a poignant narrative, Flat Daddy gives a jolt of new energy to the wartime documentary. As American soldiers get shipped abroad, their families fill the void with life-size cardboard photos known as “Flat Daddies” or “Heroes on a Stick.” The filmmakers follow four families from the Bronx, Las Vegas, suburban […]
In post-war Sierra Leone, the international community spent millions on a questionable justice system. But an alternative approach emerged at a grassroots level known as “fambul tok” (literally, “family talk”). Reviving an ancient tradition around campfires, villagers bring together victims and offenders for ceremonies of truth telling and forgiveness. The film chronicles the movement and captures dramatic reconciliations, offering […]