Russell Simmons' All Def Digital is partnering with director Jason Zeldes and the nonprofit The Film Collaborative on the theatrical and VOD release of spoken word documentary Romeo Is Bleeding.
Romeo Is Bleeding takes a look at the transformative nature that spoken word poetry has on the youth growing up in the violent suburb of Richmond, Calif. The story follows Donté Clark as he tries to mount a new telling of Romeo and Juliet with high schoolers.
“This is a powerful and provocative film that could not be more timely, or timeless. It carries a critical message about the power of the written —...
Romeo Is Bleeding takes a look at the transformative nature that spoken word poetry has on the youth growing up in the violent suburb of Richmond, Calif. The story follows Donté Clark as he tries to mount a new telling of Romeo and Juliet with high schoolers.
“This is a powerful and provocative film that could not be more timely, or timeless. It carries a critical message about the power of the written —...
- 6/6/2017
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Heartland Film Festival chose Stephan Komandarev’s The Judgment as Best Narrative Feature last night during ceremonies at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana. Romeo Is Bleeding, directed by Jason Zeldes, took the prize for Best Documentary Feature. Nods for The Judgment, which is Bulgaria’s entry for the Foreign Language Film category of the Academy Awards, and Romeo Is Bleeding, each come with $45,000 prizes. Best Narrative Short award went to The Way of…...
- 10/25/2015
- Deadline
Telluride Review: Brie Larson is a Revelation Alongside Stunning Newcomer Jacob Tremblay in 'Room' Aspen FilmFest closed on September 30 after showcasing 23 narrative and documentary films from around the world, giving one Audience Award for each category. The Narrative Award went to "Room," giving the film another festival win ahead of its October 16 release. Starring Brie Larson and outstanding newcomer Jacob Tremblay, the drama is an unexpectedly tender exploration of the boundless love between a mother and child under the most harrowing of circumstances. "Room" won the People's Choice Award at Tiff last month. In the documentary category, "Romeo is Bleeding" took home the top prize. The debut film from director Jason Zeldes, the doc is about a young poet and activist in Richmond, CA. The official festival synopsis reads: "Donté Clark is on a mission to combat his hometown's gang violence with poetry. As Clark and his...
- 10/2/2015
- by Wil Barlow
- Indiewire
Audiences love "Room": after nabbing the Grolsch People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, the awards contender continued its winning streak at the 37th Aspen Filmfest, where it received one of two balloted audience awards. (The other, for documentary feature, went to director Jason Zeldes' "Romeo Is Bleeding," which follows a group of young people in violence-plagued Richmond, Calif. as they put on a production of "Romeo and Juliet.") Read More: "'Room' Wins Toronto Audience Award, Awards Bellwether" Strength with audiences is often the key to staying power in the prolonged Oscar race, and the back-to-back victories suggest that "Room" (A24, in theaters Oct. 16) has the potential to become a breakout hit. The film, adapted by Emma Donoghue from her bestselling 2010 novel, is directed by Lenny Abrahamson ("Frank") and features rising star Brie Larson and young Jacob Tremblay. All are strong...
- 10/2/2015
- by Matt Brennan
- Thompson on Hollywood
"Violence is beyond flesh, it's spiritual."- Donté Clark Most people are first introduced to Shakespeare in high school. As teenagers, we sat hunched over our desks trying to make sense of 16th century prose. More often than not, it felt like a bunch of archaic language mixed in with some incomprehensible jargon, until we were finally able to grasp the stories and the nature of the words.Jason Zeldes’ “Romeo Is Bleeding” is the story of Donté Clark, a young educator, activist, poet and resident of Richmond, California. After rereading Shakespeare’s “Romeo + Juliet”, Clark...
- 9/28/2015
- by Aramide A Tinubu
- ShadowAndAct
The 5th Annual Napa Valley Film Festival (Nvff), scheduled to take place November 11-15, has announced its Narrative and Documentary feature film line-ups for juried competition. The complete program of approximately 125 films, including special presentations, sneak previews of award season contenders, narrative and documentary shorts, and short features, as well as jury members, will be announced soon.
Directors of the Narrative and Documentary feature films in competition will participate in Nvff’s unique Artists-in-Residence Program presented in partnership with the incomparable Meadowood Napa Valley. Directors will stay at the luxury resort for six nights during the festival and are treated to special events and workshops with their competition group and industry mentors. Meadowood Napa Valley will also award $10,000 to the winning filmmakers in both the Narrative and Documentary competition categories at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday, November 15.
“We experienced nearly a 50% jump in submissions this year, making it just that much more difficult to whittle down to our 10 narrative and 10 documentary feature films for our core competition,” said Nvff Executive & Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “We look forward to sharing these compelling real and imagined stories with our audiences in November, and to supporting these innovative filmmakers and getting to know them during their tenure with us as Artists-in-Residence at Meadowood."
Nvff has also announced that former USA Today Chief Film Critic Claudia Puig will be joining the festival team. She will serve as a consulting programming director and industry liaison for the balance of 2015, and then take on full responsibilities of program director at the beginning of the 2016 festival planning cycle.
“After 15 years as a film critic, I became increasingly intrigued by the film festival world and what makes compelling film programming,” said Puig. “Some of the best and most original movies I’ve seen have made their debut at film festivals. Joining the Napa staff is especially exciting - only in its fifth year, the Napa Valley Film Festival is growing by leaps and bounds with its ambitious, forward-thinking and innovative programming, panels and events. The combination of film, wine and a gorgeous location made this an easy choice for my new career path, and I look forward to working with Marc, Brenda and the entire Nvff team.”
Narrative Competition Section
Films in the Narrative competition section feature actors Alexis Bledel, Jamie Chung, Eliza Dushku, Lyndsy Fonseca, Bryan Greenberg, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Jordan, Josh McDermitt, Kal Penn and Jason Sudeikis, among others. The 10 films selected include:
"Astraea" – When humanity is mysteriously wiped out, clairvoyant 14 year-old Astraea is led by her older brother through the snowy landscapes of a post-apocalyptic America. Astraea chronicles their trek to find and connect with other survivors along the way to the far northeast where their parents are believed to still be alive. Directed by Kristjan Thor.
"Honeyglue" – Morgan seeks out a new perspective and lifestyle after receiving a severe life-threatening medical diagnosis. After meeting Jordan, an artist whose avenues for personal expression far transcend her conservative and stale world, the two spend her last months on an adventurous journey of self-discovery. Directed by James Bird.
"It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" – After a chance encounter in Hong Kong during which an ex-pat and a tourist seem to strike a romantic spark, Ruby and Josh are blessed with an equally coincidental second date. Unfortunately, the two seem to have found the perfect connections at the most inopportune times. Starring Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung. Directed by Emily Ting.
"Jane Wants a Boyfriend" – Jane, an aspiring costume designer on the autism spectrum, recruits her sister to help her find her first boyfriend. As she challenges the obstacles of her daily life in seeking a romantic connection, often failing, she also shows those closest to her that everyone deserves a chance at love. Starring Eliza Dushku. Directed by William Sullivan.
"Life in Color" – Mary, a failed nanny, and Homer, a floundering comedian, grapple with the harsh realities that preclude them from the success that appears to come so easily to others. The unlikely duo realizes that they can overcome their lack of home, job and purpose if they face defeat together. Starring Josh McDermitt and Katharine Emmer. Directed by Katharine Emmer.
"Lola’s Last Letter" – While completing her community service, a young woman continues to deal with the emotional trauma left over by the mistake that sent her to prison. As Lola’s camera captures details of her daily routine, the reason behind her resistance to moving on is revealed. Starring Valerie Brandy. Directed by Valerie Brandy.
"Moments of Clarity" – Two unlikely friends, Claire and Danielle, elude their protective parents and embark on a quest to repair an antique camera. A series of events lead to their adventure extending beyond their original plans, ultimately helping them both to better understand the worlds from which they had seemingly escaped. Starring Lyndsy Fonseca and Kristin Wallace. Directed by Stev Elam.
"Outliving Emily" – Twelve diverse actors portray the various stages of Tim and Emily’s anthologized marriage. Each pair uniquely captures the notable highs and lows that take place throughout the span of a life-long relationship, making their story highly relatable to couples everywhere. Starring Alexis Bledel, Zosia Mamet, Thomas Mann, Kal Penn, Jeremy Jordan, Phylicia Rashad and many more. Directed by Eric Weber and Sean Devaney.
"The King of New Orleans" – Larry’s story is chronicled from the passenger seat of his taxi cab. His regular commuters and new riders represent the various walks of life in the faded and haunted beauty of New Orleans. The compelling bond he creates with travelers and locals alike is forever changed by the heartbreaking effects of Hurricane Katrina. Directed by Allen Frederic.
"Tumbledown"– Hannah, the widow of an acclaimed folk musician, engages a New York professor to assist her in writing her late husband’s biography. Her emotions are thrown for a loop when he begins investigating the circumstances surrounding the untimely death. Starring Rebecca Hall and Jason Sudeikis. Directed by Sean Mewshaw.
Documentary Competition Section
"A Place to Stand" – Jimmy Santiago Baca was a seventeen-year-old petty thief and drug dealer when he was sentenced to five years in Arizona State Prison, one of the deadliest prisons in America. Baca began his incarceration violent, angry and illiterate. Against all odds, he taught himself how to read and write, discovering a passion for poetry that ultimately saved his life. Directed by Daniel Glick.
"Bounce: How the Ball Taught the World to Play" – Based on the book by anthropologist John Fox, “The Ball: Discovering the Object of the Game,” Bounce takes us to the far reaches of the globe and the deep recesses of our ancient past to answer the question: why do we play ball? Equal parts science, history and visual essay, the film follows the bouncing ball from animal play through professional sports to video games, exploring why we play and what play says about who we are and where we are going as a civilization. Directed by Jerome Thelia.
"Code: Debugging the Gap" –Code asks the questions: why is there a dearth of female and minority software engineers, what would society gain from having more women and people of color coding, and how do we get there? Code highlights breakthrough efforts that are producing a more diverse set of computer programmers. Directed by Robin Hauser Reynolds.
"King Georges"– Fiery French chef Georges Perrier is on a crusade to save his world-renowned 40-year-old Philadelphia restaurant, Le Bec-Fin, from closing. Times and tastes have changed – what was once cutting edge is now out of favor. "King Georges" is the story of a determined, tragi-comic figure, and his fight to keep culinary traditions alive. Directed by Erika Frankel.
"Life Under Siege: Exploring Gaza’s Secret Tunnels" – "Life Under Siege" is the story of a U.S.-Palestinian family divided by the siege on the Gaza Strip, and reunited under the cloak of the Arab Spring. Director Miriam Abu Sharkh’s travels to Gaza investigates the smuggling tunnels to Egypt, and attempts to forge relationships with her father and half siblings, whom she is only able to visit by result of monumental social movements. Directed by Miriam Abu Sharkh.
"Right Footed" – Despite being born without arms, Jessica Cox overcame both physical and emotional challenges to become fully independent. She learned to type with her toes, drive a car with her feet, and amazingly, fly an airplane. "Right Footed" follows Jessica as she transforms from a motivational speaker to a mentor, and eventually into a leading advocate for people with disability. Directed by Nick Spark.
"Romeo is Bleeding" – Donte Clark’s poetic voice was honed on the violent street corners of his struggling city of Richmond, California. Rather than succumb to the everyday pressures to just survive, Clark uses his artistic perspective – and a good dose of inspiration from the Bard – to create a personalized production of Romeo & Juliet as one man’s attempt to save his city from itself. Directed by Jason Zeldes.
"Since: The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103" – When a terrorist-planted bomb destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988, 270 lives were ended and a heartbreaking new reality for thousands of relatives begun. Since follows the victims’ families on a 23-year quest for justice and the truth. Directed by Phil Furey.
"The Family Next Door" – He was the star Yale football player who went on to become an attorney. She was the beautiful cheerleader who became a loving, caring teacher. Their genes were perfect to start a dream family. Four children and seventeen years later, they are the family that no one wants to be: the family affected by autism, with drastically altered expectations, and yet with patience, grace, determination and unconditional love. Directed by Michael Messner and Barry Reese.
"The Uncondemned" – In 1997, a mismatched group of underdog lawyers embarked on a quixotic quest to have rape classified as an international war crime for the first time. "The Uncondemned" is the story of their fight for the first conviction and the story of the heroic Rwandan women who risked a wave of witness assassinations to testify.
Directors of the Narrative and Documentary feature films in competition will participate in Nvff’s unique Artists-in-Residence Program presented in partnership with the incomparable Meadowood Napa Valley. Directors will stay at the luxury resort for six nights during the festival and are treated to special events and workshops with their competition group and industry mentors. Meadowood Napa Valley will also award $10,000 to the winning filmmakers in both the Narrative and Documentary competition categories at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday, November 15.
“We experienced nearly a 50% jump in submissions this year, making it just that much more difficult to whittle down to our 10 narrative and 10 documentary feature films for our core competition,” said Nvff Executive & Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “We look forward to sharing these compelling real and imagined stories with our audiences in November, and to supporting these innovative filmmakers and getting to know them during their tenure with us as Artists-in-Residence at Meadowood."
Nvff has also announced that former USA Today Chief Film Critic Claudia Puig will be joining the festival team. She will serve as a consulting programming director and industry liaison for the balance of 2015, and then take on full responsibilities of program director at the beginning of the 2016 festival planning cycle.
“After 15 years as a film critic, I became increasingly intrigued by the film festival world and what makes compelling film programming,” said Puig. “Some of the best and most original movies I’ve seen have made their debut at film festivals. Joining the Napa staff is especially exciting - only in its fifth year, the Napa Valley Film Festival is growing by leaps and bounds with its ambitious, forward-thinking and innovative programming, panels and events. The combination of film, wine and a gorgeous location made this an easy choice for my new career path, and I look forward to working with Marc, Brenda and the entire Nvff team.”
Narrative Competition Section
Films in the Narrative competition section feature actors Alexis Bledel, Jamie Chung, Eliza Dushku, Lyndsy Fonseca, Bryan Greenberg, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Jordan, Josh McDermitt, Kal Penn and Jason Sudeikis, among others. The 10 films selected include:
"Astraea" – When humanity is mysteriously wiped out, clairvoyant 14 year-old Astraea is led by her older brother through the snowy landscapes of a post-apocalyptic America. Astraea chronicles their trek to find and connect with other survivors along the way to the far northeast where their parents are believed to still be alive. Directed by Kristjan Thor.
"Honeyglue" – Morgan seeks out a new perspective and lifestyle after receiving a severe life-threatening medical diagnosis. After meeting Jordan, an artist whose avenues for personal expression far transcend her conservative and stale world, the two spend her last months on an adventurous journey of self-discovery. Directed by James Bird.
"It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" – After a chance encounter in Hong Kong during which an ex-pat and a tourist seem to strike a romantic spark, Ruby and Josh are blessed with an equally coincidental second date. Unfortunately, the two seem to have found the perfect connections at the most inopportune times. Starring Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung. Directed by Emily Ting.
"Jane Wants a Boyfriend" – Jane, an aspiring costume designer on the autism spectrum, recruits her sister to help her find her first boyfriend. As she challenges the obstacles of her daily life in seeking a romantic connection, often failing, she also shows those closest to her that everyone deserves a chance at love. Starring Eliza Dushku. Directed by William Sullivan.
"Life in Color" – Mary, a failed nanny, and Homer, a floundering comedian, grapple with the harsh realities that preclude them from the success that appears to come so easily to others. The unlikely duo realizes that they can overcome their lack of home, job and purpose if they face defeat together. Starring Josh McDermitt and Katharine Emmer. Directed by Katharine Emmer.
"Lola’s Last Letter" – While completing her community service, a young woman continues to deal with the emotional trauma left over by the mistake that sent her to prison. As Lola’s camera captures details of her daily routine, the reason behind her resistance to moving on is revealed. Starring Valerie Brandy. Directed by Valerie Brandy.
"Moments of Clarity" – Two unlikely friends, Claire and Danielle, elude their protective parents and embark on a quest to repair an antique camera. A series of events lead to their adventure extending beyond their original plans, ultimately helping them both to better understand the worlds from which they had seemingly escaped. Starring Lyndsy Fonseca and Kristin Wallace. Directed by Stev Elam.
"Outliving Emily" – Twelve diverse actors portray the various stages of Tim and Emily’s anthologized marriage. Each pair uniquely captures the notable highs and lows that take place throughout the span of a life-long relationship, making their story highly relatable to couples everywhere. Starring Alexis Bledel, Zosia Mamet, Thomas Mann, Kal Penn, Jeremy Jordan, Phylicia Rashad and many more. Directed by Eric Weber and Sean Devaney.
"The King of New Orleans" – Larry’s story is chronicled from the passenger seat of his taxi cab. His regular commuters and new riders represent the various walks of life in the faded and haunted beauty of New Orleans. The compelling bond he creates with travelers and locals alike is forever changed by the heartbreaking effects of Hurricane Katrina. Directed by Allen Frederic.
"Tumbledown"– Hannah, the widow of an acclaimed folk musician, engages a New York professor to assist her in writing her late husband’s biography. Her emotions are thrown for a loop when he begins investigating the circumstances surrounding the untimely death. Starring Rebecca Hall and Jason Sudeikis. Directed by Sean Mewshaw.
Documentary Competition Section
"A Place to Stand" – Jimmy Santiago Baca was a seventeen-year-old petty thief and drug dealer when he was sentenced to five years in Arizona State Prison, one of the deadliest prisons in America. Baca began his incarceration violent, angry and illiterate. Against all odds, he taught himself how to read and write, discovering a passion for poetry that ultimately saved his life. Directed by Daniel Glick.
"Bounce: How the Ball Taught the World to Play" – Based on the book by anthropologist John Fox, “The Ball: Discovering the Object of the Game,” Bounce takes us to the far reaches of the globe and the deep recesses of our ancient past to answer the question: why do we play ball? Equal parts science, history and visual essay, the film follows the bouncing ball from animal play through professional sports to video games, exploring why we play and what play says about who we are and where we are going as a civilization. Directed by Jerome Thelia.
"Code: Debugging the Gap" –Code asks the questions: why is there a dearth of female and minority software engineers, what would society gain from having more women and people of color coding, and how do we get there? Code highlights breakthrough efforts that are producing a more diverse set of computer programmers. Directed by Robin Hauser Reynolds.
"King Georges"– Fiery French chef Georges Perrier is on a crusade to save his world-renowned 40-year-old Philadelphia restaurant, Le Bec-Fin, from closing. Times and tastes have changed – what was once cutting edge is now out of favor. "King Georges" is the story of a determined, tragi-comic figure, and his fight to keep culinary traditions alive. Directed by Erika Frankel.
"Life Under Siege: Exploring Gaza’s Secret Tunnels" – "Life Under Siege" is the story of a U.S.-Palestinian family divided by the siege on the Gaza Strip, and reunited under the cloak of the Arab Spring. Director Miriam Abu Sharkh’s travels to Gaza investigates the smuggling tunnels to Egypt, and attempts to forge relationships with her father and half siblings, whom she is only able to visit by result of monumental social movements. Directed by Miriam Abu Sharkh.
"Right Footed" – Despite being born without arms, Jessica Cox overcame both physical and emotional challenges to become fully independent. She learned to type with her toes, drive a car with her feet, and amazingly, fly an airplane. "Right Footed" follows Jessica as she transforms from a motivational speaker to a mentor, and eventually into a leading advocate for people with disability. Directed by Nick Spark.
"Romeo is Bleeding" – Donte Clark’s poetic voice was honed on the violent street corners of his struggling city of Richmond, California. Rather than succumb to the everyday pressures to just survive, Clark uses his artistic perspective – and a good dose of inspiration from the Bard – to create a personalized production of Romeo & Juliet as one man’s attempt to save his city from itself. Directed by Jason Zeldes.
"Since: The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103" – When a terrorist-planted bomb destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988, 270 lives were ended and a heartbreaking new reality for thousands of relatives begun. Since follows the victims’ families on a 23-year quest for justice and the truth. Directed by Phil Furey.
"The Family Next Door" – He was the star Yale football player who went on to become an attorney. She was the beautiful cheerleader who became a loving, caring teacher. Their genes were perfect to start a dream family. Four children and seventeen years later, they are the family that no one wants to be: the family affected by autism, with drastically altered expectations, and yet with patience, grace, determination and unconditional love. Directed by Michael Messner and Barry Reese.
"The Uncondemned" – In 1997, a mismatched group of underdog lawyers embarked on a quixotic quest to have rape classified as an international war crime for the first time. "The Uncondemned" is the story of their fight for the first conviction and the story of the heroic Rwandan women who risked a wave of witness assassinations to testify.
- 8/19/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
Read More: San Francisco Film Society Announces Winners of 2014 Documentary Film Fund Jason Zeldes' documentary "Romeo Is Bleeding" has won top prizes from the San Francisco and Seattle International Film Festivals, and recently screened to acclaim for Rooftop Films. The film is a visualization of spoken word poet Donté Clark's "Romeo and Juliet" adaptation. As the "Romeo Is Bleeding" official synopsis reads: "Like a modern day Verona, Richmond, CA stands divided between two warring factions. Instead of Capulets and Montagues, the feud exists between North and Central Richmond. Amongst the tension stands a young poet named Donté Clark. Armed with passion and intellect he survives the madness of the cities' violence and revenge (all over dispute few can remember) with words." In an exclusive new video, you can get a taste of Clark's unique power as a linguist and a performer. Following the recent "Romeo Is...
- 7/22/2015
- by David Canfield
- Indiewire
The 3-week long Seattle International Film Fest 2015 has wrapped up and the coveted Golden Space Needle Awards have all been taken home. The big winner of the dramatic prizes was New Zealander James Napier Robertson's The Dark Horse (pictured) which took home Best Feature and Best Actor (Cliff Curtis) audience awards. The Best Documentary award went to Jason Zeldes's Romeo Is Bleeding about a poet amidst a gang war in Richmond, CA. Other films to take home top prizes include Liza, The Fox-Fairy, The Great Alone, and Chatty Catties which won the Grand Jury Prize Awards for Best New Director, Best Documentary and Best New American Film (respectively). It was a great festival. Let us know if you made it and what you loved....
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 6/9/2015
- Screen Anarchy
The Seattle International Film Festival has announced the winners of the 41st annual event. The event, held this year over 25 days beginning May 14, saw entrants from 92 countries, with 750 screenings during the event. New Zealand feature The Dark Horse, from director James Napier Robertson, took two Audience Awards, for Best Picture and Best Actor; Documentary Romeo is Bleeding, directed by Jason Zeldes also took home two prizes, the Audience Award for documentary, and a…...
- 6/7/2015
- Deadline
James Napier Robertson’s acclaimed New Zealand drama picked up a couple of honours as the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival came to a close.
The 25-day festival kicked off on May 14 and featured 450 films representing 92 countries and featured 49 world premieres.
Siff 2015 Golden Space Needle Audience Awards
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Film
The Dark Horse by James Napier Robertson
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Documentary
Romeo Is Bleeding by Jason Zeldes
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Director
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Me And Earl And The Dying Girl
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Actor
Cliff Curtis, The Dark Horse
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Actress
Nina Hoss, Phoenix
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Short Film
Even The Walls, directed by Sarah Kuck, Saman Maydáni
Lena Sharpe Award For Persistence Of Vision
Frame By Frame by Mo Scarpelli, Alexandria Bombach
Siff 2015 Competition Awards
Siff 2015 Best New Director
Grand Jury Prize
Liza, The Fox-Fairy...
The 25-day festival kicked off on May 14 and featured 450 films representing 92 countries and featured 49 world premieres.
Siff 2015 Golden Space Needle Audience Awards
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Film
The Dark Horse by James Napier Robertson
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Documentary
Romeo Is Bleeding by Jason Zeldes
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Director
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Me And Earl And The Dying Girl
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Actor
Cliff Curtis, The Dark Horse
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Actress
Nina Hoss, Phoenix
Golden Space Needle Award - Best Short Film
Even The Walls, directed by Sarah Kuck, Saman Maydáni
Lena Sharpe Award For Persistence Of Vision
Frame By Frame by Mo Scarpelli, Alexandria Bombach
Siff 2015 Competition Awards
Siff 2015 Best New Director
Grand Jury Prize
Liza, The Fox-Fairy...
- 6/7/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
This year's Sffs Documentary Film Fund awards total $75,000 to support feature-length docs in postproduction. Esteemed past winners include Zachary Heinzerling's 2014 Oscar-nominated "Cutie and the Boxer," Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson’s 2013 Sundance winner "American Promise" and Jason Zeldes' "Romeo Is Bleeding," which just premiered at the Sf International Film Festival. The Fund has distributed over $450,000 to national filmmakers since 2011. The panelists who reviewed the 11 finalists’ submissions are Jennifer Battat, founder of the Jenerosity Foundation; Noah Cowan, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society; Lisa Kleiner-Chanoff, cofounder of Catapult Film Fund; filmmaker Dan Krauss; and Michele Turnure-Salleo, director of the Film Society’s Filmmaker360 program. Watch: Homegrown Bay Area Doc "Romeo Is Bleeding" Hits Sf Film Fest (Exclusive Clip) 2015 Documentary Film Fund Winners: "The Island...
- 4/30/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Organisers at the Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) announced the complete line-up of 450 films from 92 countries on Wednesday. The festival runs from May 14-June 7.
The Overnight starring Jason Schwartzman will close the event and as previously announced Spy (pictured) with Melissa McCartney will kick off proceedings. Kevin Bacon will receive career achievement in acting award.
“This year’s festival is bigger and more international than ever, with a record 92 countries represented,” said Siff artistic director Carl Spence. “Adding to our diverse international line-up is our new programme, Culinary Cinema, which features 11 fantastic new films.
“And I’m particularly excited to welcome Kevin Bacon as this year’s Tribute Guest – Siff will now be only one-degree of separation away!”
Galas and premieres include Max Landis’ directorial debut Me Him Her, Chris Evans in Before We Go, Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segal in the Centerpiece Gala End Of The Tour . Inside Out, Mr. Holmes and [link...
The Overnight starring Jason Schwartzman will close the event and as previously announced Spy (pictured) with Melissa McCartney will kick off proceedings. Kevin Bacon will receive career achievement in acting award.
“This year’s festival is bigger and more international than ever, with a record 92 countries represented,” said Siff artistic director Carl Spence. “Adding to our diverse international line-up is our new programme, Culinary Cinema, which features 11 fantastic new films.
“And I’m particularly excited to welcome Kevin Bacon as this year’s Tribute Guest – Siff will now be only one-degree of separation away!”
Galas and premieres include Max Landis’ directorial debut Me Him Her, Chris Evans in Before We Go, Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segal in the Centerpiece Gala End Of The Tour . Inside Out, Mr. Holmes and [link...
- 4/29/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
An editor on Oscar winner "20 Feet from Stardom," rookie director Jason Zeldes' debut doc "Romeo Is Bleeding" shadows Richmond-based poet and activist Donté Clark as he fights to heal a community ravaged by violence. Here's the synopsis: With the help of teacher/mentor Molly Raynor, Clark collaborates with youth at Raw (Richmond Artists With) Talent to adapt Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to modern-day Richmond, CA. Instead of Verona and Mantua, Te’s Harmony unfolds in Central and North Richmond and tells a tale of love, revenge and murder amid poverty and family disintegration, with the lines delivered in slang-filled iambic pentameter and hip-hop metaphors. Occasionally, the new script incorporates Shakespeare’s words, adding an extra layer of meaning. The film features interviews with the budding writers of Raw Talent and residents of Richmond, which isn't far from where Bart passenger Oscar Grant was shot by a police officer on New Year's.
- 4/14/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
San Francisco Film Society announced complete line-up for the 2015 San Francisco International Film Festival, which runs from April 23-May 7.
In its 58th year, the festival will showcase a total of 181 films, including two world premieres, five North American premieres and five Us premieres.
This year’s line-up includes Stevan Riley’s Marlon Brando documentary Listen To Me Marlon, Andrew Bujalski’s comedy Results starring Cobie Smulders and Guy Pearce and the new Netflix series Chef’s Table, a food documentary from Jiro: Dreams Of Sushi director David Gelb.
The programme includes the world premiere of Jason Zeldes’ documentary Romeo Is Bleeding and Miranda July’s newest work New Society.
The festival will include tributes to Irving M Levin Directing Award recipient Guillermo del Toro and Peter J Owens Award recipient Richard Gere.
The San Francisco Film Society also features the popular Live & Onstage portion of the festival, which highlights films exhibited with live music, stage performance...
In its 58th year, the festival will showcase a total of 181 films, including two world premieres, five North American premieres and five Us premieres.
This year’s line-up includes Stevan Riley’s Marlon Brando documentary Listen To Me Marlon, Andrew Bujalski’s comedy Results starring Cobie Smulders and Guy Pearce and the new Netflix series Chef’s Table, a food documentary from Jiro: Dreams Of Sushi director David Gelb.
The programme includes the world premiere of Jason Zeldes’ documentary Romeo Is Bleeding and Miranda July’s newest work New Society.
The festival will include tributes to Irving M Levin Directing Award recipient Guillermo del Toro and Peter J Owens Award recipient Richard Gere.
The San Francisco Film Society also features the popular Live & Onstage portion of the festival, which highlights films exhibited with live music, stage performance...
- 3/31/2015
- ScreenDaily
Top brass at the Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp) have announced (12) 10 ten documentaries selected for the 2014 Independent Filmmaker Labs for first-time feature directors.
The creative teams of the selected films, chosen from a national pool of more than 200 submissions, are currently attending the first week’s sessions – The Time Warner Foundation Completion Labs – that run from May 12-16 in New York.
The Narrative Lab selections will be announced in June.
“With the ability to support filmmakers and their projects over the long-term, the Labs remain one of Ifp’s most rewarding and successful programmes,” said Ifp executive director Joana Vicente.
“With 80% of previous Lab projects debuted in festivals and released worldwide, the impact of the programme continues to be significant.”
The 2014 labs mark the 10th anniversary edition of the mentorship programme conceived by producer and Filmmaker Magazine editor Scott Macaulay.
The Labs were launched in 2005 as a three-day initiative for eight narrative projects and have evolved into a...
The creative teams of the selected films, chosen from a national pool of more than 200 submissions, are currently attending the first week’s sessions – The Time Warner Foundation Completion Labs – that run from May 12-16 in New York.
The Narrative Lab selections will be announced in June.
“With the ability to support filmmakers and their projects over the long-term, the Labs remain one of Ifp’s most rewarding and successful programmes,” said Ifp executive director Joana Vicente.
“With 80% of previous Lab projects debuted in festivals and released worldwide, the impact of the programme continues to be significant.”
The 2014 labs mark the 10th anniversary edition of the mentorship programme conceived by producer and Filmmaker Magazine editor Scott Macaulay.
The Labs were launched in 2005 as a three-day initiative for eight narrative projects and have evolved into a...
- 5/12/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Earlier today the San Francisco Film Society (Sffs) announced the three winners for their 2014 Documentary Film Fund. Over $75,000 in prizes were awarded to the winners' for their feature-length documentaries, all in post-production. The prize is given to innovative filmmakers working on nonfiction documentary films. This year's winners are (descriptions provided by Ssfs): Moby Longinotto's "The Joneses" -- "The Joneses" is a portrait of Jheri, a 73-year-old transgender trailer park matriarch, who lives in bible belt Mississippi. Reconciled with her family after years of estrangement, and now living with two of her sons, Jheri embarks on a new path to reveal her true self to her grandchildren. Will their family bonds survive? -- $30,627 Jason Zeldes' "Romeo Is Bleeding" -- Donte Clark's poetic voice was honed on the violent street corners of a struggling city. Yet rather than succumb to the pressures of Richmond, CA, Clark uses his artistic.
- 4/9/2014
- by Eric Eidelstein
- Indiewire
The San Francisco Film Society has revealed the three winners of its 2014 Sffs Documentary Film Fund awards, which total more than $75,000 and support feature-length documentaries in post-production. Moby Longinotto’s “The Joneses,” Jason Zeldes's “Romeo Is Bleeding” and Andrew James's “Street Fighting Man” were each given funding to help push them towards completion. (More details on each project below.)Previous winners include Zachary Heinzerling’s Oscar nominated “Cutie and the Boxer,” Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson’s Sundance Special Jury Prize winner “American Promise” and Shaul Schwarz’s strongly reviewed 2013 Sundance entry “Narco Cultura.” 2014 Documentary Film Fund Winners:The Joneses — Moby Longinotto, director and Aviva Wishnow, producer — $30,627The Joneses is a portrait of Jheri, a 73-year-old transgender trailer park matriarch, who lives in bible belt Mississippi. Reconciled with her family after years of estrangement, and now living with two of her sons,...
- 4/9/2014
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
Top brass at Tribeca Film Institute (Tfi) have announced (9) the 2014 grantees of the Tfi Sloan Filmmaker Fund. Separately,the 2014 Sffs Documentary Film Fund recipients have been unveiled.
This year’s Tfi Sloan Filmmaker Fund recipients will receive a total of $150,000 in grants to support their projects, selected by a jury comprising John Slattery, Meg Ryan, Jonathan Nolan and academics Heather Berlin and John Quakenbush.
The 2014 Tfi Sloan Filmmaker Fund grantees are: Afronauts – March 1965 (dir, Frances N Bodomo); potential awards season contender Imitation Game –The life Of British Mathematician And Logician, Alan Turing (dir, Morten Tyldum); Venus Transit – Iris (wr, Giulia Corda).
The San Francisco Film Society has unveiled the three winners of the 2014 Sffs Documentary Film Fund awards totalling more than $75,000. Moby Longinotto’s The Joneses, Jason Zeldes’s Romeo Is Bleeding and Andrew James’s Street Fighting Man were each awarded significant funding that will help push them towards completion.The First Time...
This year’s Tfi Sloan Filmmaker Fund recipients will receive a total of $150,000 in grants to support their projects, selected by a jury comprising John Slattery, Meg Ryan, Jonathan Nolan and academics Heather Berlin and John Quakenbush.
The 2014 Tfi Sloan Filmmaker Fund grantees are: Afronauts – March 1965 (dir, Frances N Bodomo); potential awards season contender Imitation Game –The life Of British Mathematician And Logician, Alan Turing (dir, Morten Tyldum); Venus Transit – Iris (wr, Giulia Corda).
The San Francisco Film Society has unveiled the three winners of the 2014 Sffs Documentary Film Fund awards totalling more than $75,000. Moby Longinotto’s The Joneses, Jason Zeldes’s Romeo Is Bleeding and Andrew James’s Street Fighting Man were each awarded significant funding that will help push them towards completion.The First Time...
- 4/9/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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