I offer a post of interesting (at least to me) miscellany before holiday party madness starts in earnest. I hope you all have a bright, shiny season ahead of you filled with laughter, love and good cheer. And latkes.
First off, if you'd like to watch the New York Film / Video Council presentation and panel discussion I moderated at DCTV last month with PBS' Channel 13, UnionDocs and 12films12weeks, you can view it on the Thirteen Forum here. The actual panel discussion that follows the different participant presentations starts about 45 minutes in.
In Los Angeles on Monday the 14th, the International Documentary Association hosts an evening with Sundance Institute's Cara Mertes at its last Doc U session of 2009 at the Kodak Screening Room in Hollywood. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with one of the most knowledgeable, charismatic and eloquent speakers about international independent documentary. Mertes has a truly global perspective and is incredibly passionate about nonfiction storytelling. I always am so inspired after listening to her. She also plans on bringing a sneak peek of an upcoming Documentary Film Program project scheduled to screen at the Sundance fest next month. Click here for event details and to reserve yourself a spot.
Monday night here in New York brings a very special program courtesy of the Flaherty Film Seminar. Join them as they present films produced by WITNESS and discuss the impact of some recent advocacy videos produced by grassroots international human rights defenders. Founded in 1992, WITNESS has empowered many ordinary citizens to use a video camera to shine a light on those most affected by human rights violations, transforming personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for change. Join several filmmakers and representatives from WITNESS at 7:30 at Anthology Film Archives.
Never let it be said that we have lack of choice in our fair city because also on Monday evening, Shooting People will host a screening at DCTV of HomeGrown by Robert McFalls. Annie Kovak (voted cutest farmer on Huffington Post!) will host a Skype Q&A with the founder of the homegrown revolution project on which the film focuses. Click here for more info.
And speaking of organic-osity, at Anthology on Tuesday night the 15th at 7:30 p.m., is a really yummy event. The Hungry Filmmakers collective will host an evening featuring excerpts from six upcoming food-oriented films followed by a Q&A and panel discussion moderated by food activist and author, Anna Lappé. Then join in an after-party with hors d'oeuvres served from local and sustainably-minded food and beverage purveyors at the Good Beer Seat bar, Jimmy's No. 43. The films featured will be What's Organic About Organic? by Shelley Rogers, Big River and Truck Farm by Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney (the hottest thing on a dance floor since John Travolta), The Greenhorns by Severine von Tscarner Fleming, Grown in Detroit by Manfred and Mascha Poppenk, Faces from the New Farm by Liz Thylander, Kat Shiffler and Lara Sheets, and an untitled film on climate change and food systems by Sara Grady. Proceeds from the evening will be donated to nonprofit, Just Food, which works to promote access of fresh, seasonal, sustainably-grown food for all NYC residents. How lovely of them.
That same evening on the west side at the IFC Center, Thom Powers screens the documentary of the astounding story of Dimitri Mobengo Mugianis created by Michel Negroponte called I'm Dangerous With Love. Both director and subject will be there for a post-screening Q&A with Powers followed by the regular post-STF schmooze at 99 Below on MacDougall Street.
Lastly, I'd like to give a mention to The Hunger Season screening on Thursday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m., hosted by Working Films and Chicken & Egg. They invite people to come join them at Story Leads to Action--a monthly series at the 92YTribeca Screening Room. The Hunger Season is a feature documentary directed by Beadie Finzi (Only When I Dance) which asks why, despite the massive UN food aid program, we still haven't figured out how to solve the hunger problem in this world. The film, shot over the course of a year in Swaziland, the US and Europe, follows young teacher, Justice, and the children in his care in southern Africa, while also investigating the system of international humanitarian food aid, charting the chain of decision-making involved in how food aid is distributed, and to whom. You can purchase tickets by clicking on the first link in this paragraph.
Fa-la la-la la, la-la la laaaaa.
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