Searchlight Pictures and the L.A. Times Studios on Wednesday announced their boarding of The Last Repair Shop, an acclaimed documentary short, which just received two Critics Choice Association nominations and a spot on Doc NYC’s Short List, on the heels of its premiere at Telluride.
Co-directed by Oscar- and Grammy-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker and musician Kris Bowers, as well as Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, the film likely to be put up for awards consideration will become available to stream for free globally November 8th, via the Los Angeles Times’ YouTube channel and latimes.com. Check out a new trailer for the short above.
“We’ve discovered such a special film with The Last Repair Shop, and we’re thrilled to be working with Ben and Kris,” said Searchlight Pictures Presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. “This is the kind of story we need right now, and we are proud...
Co-directed by Oscar- and Grammy-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker and musician Kris Bowers, as well as Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, the film likely to be put up for awards consideration will become available to stream for free globally November 8th, via the Los Angeles Times’ YouTube channel and latimes.com. Check out a new trailer for the short above.
“We’ve discovered such a special film with The Last Repair Shop, and we’re thrilled to be working with Ben and Kris,” said Searchlight Pictures Presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. “This is the kind of story we need right now, and we are proud...
- 10/18/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Netflix has set a July 3rd global premiere for Unknown, a new four-part docuseries on which it’s partnered with Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan’s esteemed production company Story Syndicate that will have new films debuting weekly.
Unknown is said to tell breathtaking stories of adventure and exploration in awe-inspiring uncharted territories. Each film in the series pushes the boundaries of knowledge, ventures into unexplored regions, and unlocks the secrets of our world through the stories of remarkable people and places never before captured on camera.
The show’s first episode, “Unknown: The Lost Pyramid,” takes viewers to the desert sands of Saqqara, the latest hotspot of Egyptian archaeology, where two of the world’s most famous Egyptologists seek to unearth ancient treasures. The legendary Dr. Zahi Hawass hunts for the long-lost pyramid of a forgotten Egyptian king while his protege and rival, Dr. Mostafa Waziri, searches for...
Unknown is said to tell breathtaking stories of adventure and exploration in awe-inspiring uncharted territories. Each film in the series pushes the boundaries of knowledge, ventures into unexplored regions, and unlocks the secrets of our world through the stories of remarkable people and places never before captured on camera.
The show’s first episode, “Unknown: The Lost Pyramid,” takes viewers to the desert sands of Saqqara, the latest hotspot of Egyptian archaeology, where two of the world’s most famous Egyptologists seek to unearth ancient treasures. The legendary Dr. Zahi Hawass hunts for the long-lost pyramid of a forgotten Egyptian king while his protege and rival, Dr. Mostafa Waziri, searches for...
- 5/18/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The exits of film executives Lisa Nishimura and Ian Bricke from Netflix late on March 30 shocked the documentary and indie film world. Not only were they Netflix stalwarts — Nishimura joined in 2007, when it was a DVD business, and Bricke joined in 2011 — but also for how admired and how defining of a voice they’ve been at Netflix in the last decade.
“Both of them are the foundation of the kind of programming that is both commercial and also tasteful, and not just pure fodder for the masses,” one documentary producer who asked not to be named told IndieWire. “Lisa and Ian were the foundational DNA of Netflix as a company.”
IndieWire spoke to multiple sources who worked with Nishimura and Bricke and they all offered variations on the same theme: They’re great people with great taste who have done great work, and they’re shocked by the departures.
In a statement,...
“Both of them are the foundation of the kind of programming that is both commercial and also tasteful, and not just pure fodder for the masses,” one documentary producer who asked not to be named told IndieWire. “Lisa and Ian were the foundational DNA of Netflix as a company.”
IndieWire spoke to multiple sources who worked with Nishimura and Bricke and they all offered variations on the same theme: They’re great people with great taste who have done great work, and they’re shocked by the departures.
In a statement,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Brian Welk and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Netflix is making changes in its feature documentary division.
Jason Spingarn-Koff, who was responsible for helping Netflix win its first Oscar for short doc The White Helmets, is exiting the streamer.
Spingarn-Koff has been with Netflix since 2015 as part of Lisa Nishimura’s documentary team.
His departure, along with a couple of other executives in the team, follows a couple of waves of layoffs at Netflix, which has cut around 475 staffers in the last three months. This move came as a result of the slowdown in the company’s revenue growth.
In addition to White Helmets, Spingarn-Koff has worked on Academy Awards winners Icarus, American Factory and My Octopus Teacher, Peabody Awards winners The Edge of Democracy, Chasing Coral and Audrie & Daisy and a number of Emmy winners including Strong Island. He was also involved in David Attenborough natural history series Our Planet.
He joined from The New York Times,...
Jason Spingarn-Koff, who was responsible for helping Netflix win its first Oscar for short doc The White Helmets, is exiting the streamer.
Spingarn-Koff has been with Netflix since 2015 as part of Lisa Nishimura’s documentary team.
His departure, along with a couple of other executives in the team, follows a couple of waves of layoffs at Netflix, which has cut around 475 staffers in the last three months. This move came as a result of the slowdown in the company’s revenue growth.
In addition to White Helmets, Spingarn-Koff has worked on Academy Awards winners Icarus, American Factory and My Octopus Teacher, Peabody Awards winners The Edge of Democracy, Chasing Coral and Audrie & Daisy and a number of Emmy winners including Strong Island. He was also involved in David Attenborough natural history series Our Planet.
He joined from The New York Times,...
- 7/30/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Ten years ago, the New York Times embarked on an experiment to incorporate short documentary films into its opinion section and quickly established itself as an alternative to HBO Documentary Films, then the most prominent distributor of short documentaries, growing along with the market for these short nonfiction films in its first decade.
Errol Morris, Jessica Yu and Alex Gibney made shorts for “New York Times: Op-Docs” its inaugural year and since that time its roster has expanded to include Garrett Bradley and Laura Poitras, who expanded their respective op-docs into features that garnered favor with Oscar voters: Poitras’ Oscar-winning documentary “CitizenFour” was born out of “The Program” (2012), while Bradley’s Oscar nominated “Time” grew out of her 2016 op-doc short titled “Alone.” Four op-docs shorts have received Oscar nominations, including “Walk Run Cha-Cha” and “A Concerto Is a Conversation” the past two consecutive years, and the program’s docs have...
Errol Morris, Jessica Yu and Alex Gibney made shorts for “New York Times: Op-Docs” its inaugural year and since that time its roster has expanded to include Garrett Bradley and Laura Poitras, who expanded their respective op-docs into features that garnered favor with Oscar voters: Poitras’ Oscar-winning documentary “CitizenFour” was born out of “The Program” (2012), while Bradley’s Oscar nominated “Time” grew out of her 2016 op-doc short titled “Alone.” Four op-docs shorts have received Oscar nominations, including “Walk Run Cha-Cha” and “A Concerto Is a Conversation” the past two consecutive years, and the program’s docs have...
- 11/30/2021
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
New members include filmmakers Lynne Ramsay, Haifaa al-Mansour, Fox Searchlight’s Kate Gardiner and Screen Scotland’s Isabel Davis.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has revealed its 2019 intake of new members drawn from the film, TV and games industry.
Among the record 558 new members are filmmakers and writers Haifaa al-Mansour (Wadjda), Laszlo Nemes (Son Of Saul), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), Lee Unkrich (Coco) and former Screen Star of Tomorrow Rose Glass (Saint Maud).
New executives on the list include Kate Gardiner (head of Fox Searchlight UK); Jason Maza (Unstoppable), Emma Hewitt (BBC Films...
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has revealed its 2019 intake of new members drawn from the film, TV and games industry.
Among the record 558 new members are filmmakers and writers Haifaa al-Mansour (Wadjda), Laszlo Nemes (Son Of Saul), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), Lee Unkrich (Coco) and former Screen Star of Tomorrow Rose Glass (Saint Maud).
New executives on the list include Kate Gardiner (head of Fox Searchlight UK); Jason Maza (Unstoppable), Emma Hewitt (BBC Films...
- 12/4/2019
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
At the the Hot Docs Pitch Forum, dozens of nonfiction decision-makers assemble at a grand wooden table to hear filmmakers’ seven-minute pleas to join their ranks. However, the world’s most important doc backer didn’t hear the pitches; Netflix’s Jason Spingarn-Koff was just outside Hart House Great Hall, darting about as he talked intensely or rapidly texted on his cellphone, swooping in to talk briefy to filmmakers before disappearing into a back-room meeting.
Netflix’s global dominance has diminished the importance of the attending broadcasters, funders, commissioning editors, and public media at the Hot Docs Pitch Forum, which has generated millions of dollars for docs-in-progress over nearly two decades. However, companies ranging from Itvs and Zdf are still vital, especially for documentaries that found their all-important start-up financing from a broadcaster — and therefore ineligible for Netflix consideration.
And, with Netflix buying fewer finished docs, the only way many...
Netflix’s global dominance has diminished the importance of the attending broadcasters, funders, commissioning editors, and public media at the Hot Docs Pitch Forum, which has generated millions of dollars for docs-in-progress over nearly two decades. However, companies ranging from Itvs and Zdf are still vital, especially for documentaries that found their all-important start-up financing from a broadcaster — and therefore ineligible for Netflix consideration.
And, with Netflix buying fewer finished docs, the only way many...
- 5/4/2018
- by Anthony Kaufman
- Indiewire
BuzzFeed’s newest project will shine a light on its own reporters — who will be the stars in a new Netflix short-form documentary series slated to bow this summer.
The 20-episode series, “Follow This,” will premiere July 9 on Netflix worldwide. Each 15-minute episode will be released weekly, not in Netflix’s usual binge-able release. The new show is an example of shorter-form content Netflix is acquiring, designed to appeal to viewers on mobile devices.
“We’re thrilled that Netflix saw the drama in the work of our journalism and the stories we tell,” BuzzFeed News editor-in-chief Ben Smith said in a statement. “And we’re so pleased to have brought what we’ve learned to Netflix’s unmatched audience.”
The first episode, “The Internet Whisperers,” follows BuzzFeed reporter Scaachi Koul as she delves into on a story about the “head orgasm” experience of Asmr, or autonomous sensory meridian response.
Along with Koul,...
The 20-episode series, “Follow This,” will premiere July 9 on Netflix worldwide. Each 15-minute episode will be released weekly, not in Netflix’s usual binge-able release. The new show is an example of shorter-form content Netflix is acquiring, designed to appeal to viewers on mobile devices.
“We’re thrilled that Netflix saw the drama in the work of our journalism and the stories we tell,” BuzzFeed News editor-in-chief Ben Smith said in a statement. “And we’re so pleased to have brought what we’ve learned to Netflix’s unmatched audience.”
The first episode, “The Internet Whisperers,” follows BuzzFeed reporter Scaachi Koul as she delves into on a story about the “head orgasm” experience of Asmr, or autonomous sensory meridian response.
Along with Koul,...
- 4/25/2018
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
The Best Picture shortlist for the upcoming Academy Awards recently set a record for its depth: 341 titles, revealing little about the expected contenders for film’s most-coveted prize. But just 10 films remain eligible for the Best Documentary Short Subject statuette, given to stories with runtimes of 40 minutes or less.
It’s the same category that made Netflix an Oscar winner this past February, for “The White Helmets,” directors Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara’s tribute to Syrian first responders. Netflix could claim the honor again with “Heroin(e),” but The New York Times Op-Docs team has a stronger showing on the shortlist, generating three of the films: “Ten Meter Tower,” “Alone,” and “116 Cameras.” Five nominees will ultimately be selected.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Short
To expand on the success of its opinion model, the newspaper launched its Op-Docs series in November 2011. “The Op-Ed page is the place...
It’s the same category that made Netflix an Oscar winner this past February, for “The White Helmets,” directors Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara’s tribute to Syrian first responders. Netflix could claim the honor again with “Heroin(e),” but The New York Times Op-Docs team has a stronger showing on the shortlist, generating three of the films: “Ten Meter Tower,” “Alone,” and “116 Cameras.” Five nominees will ultimately be selected.
Read More:2018 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Short
To expand on the success of its opinion model, the newspaper launched its Op-Docs series in November 2011. “The Op-Ed page is the place...
- 12/29/2017
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
The true crime genre is very popular these days. Especially with the success of programs like HBO’s doc series The Jinx, Netflix’s Making a Murderer, and O.J.: Made in America, which one an Academy Award this year.
Netflix is hoping that they have another addictive doc series on their hands with The Keepers. We have the first trailer for you to watch today and it looks like a riveting story. The seven-part doc series centers on the unsolved mystery of the murder of a Nun and a conspiracy to cover up the truth behind it for the past fifty years by the corruption within the Catholic church.
I've been fascinated with true crime stories for years, so I like that these kinds of doc series are being made. This stuff just interests me.
Directed by Ryan White (Serena, The Case Against 8), The Keepers will have everyone asking...
Netflix is hoping that they have another addictive doc series on their hands with The Keepers. We have the first trailer for you to watch today and it looks like a riveting story. The seven-part doc series centers on the unsolved mystery of the murder of a Nun and a conspiracy to cover up the truth behind it for the past fifty years by the corruption within the Catholic church.
I've been fascinated with true crime stories for years, so I like that these kinds of doc series are being made. This stuff just interests me.
Directed by Ryan White (Serena, The Case Against 8), The Keepers will have everyone asking...
- 4/20/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
On Nov. 12 of this year, Impact Partners executive director and documentary producer Dan Cogan wrote a powerful call to action on Facebook. “The last 4 days have been a horror. The next 4 years will be worse,” he wrote. “And yet my pulse is quickening, because there is so much to be done, and we, the documentary film community, are in pole position to make a huge difference.”
Over 400 documentary filmmakers, producers and executives “liked” Cogan’s message—including Oscar-nominated directors Barbara Kopple, Matt Heineman, Heidi Ewing, Amy Berg and Lucy Walker—and over 40 individuals added comments.
But despite Cogan’s passionate and inspiring plea, the Facebook post also brought up some soul-searching within the documentary community: How do you make a difference if your work is only seen and discussed within the progressive “bubbles” of social media and urban centers? How do you avoid — as suggested by executives such as Jason Spingarn-Koff,...
Over 400 documentary filmmakers, producers and executives “liked” Cogan’s message—including Oscar-nominated directors Barbara Kopple, Matt Heineman, Heidi Ewing, Amy Berg and Lucy Walker—and over 40 individuals added comments.
But despite Cogan’s passionate and inspiring plea, the Facebook post also brought up some soul-searching within the documentary community: How do you make a difference if your work is only seen and discussed within the progressive “bubbles” of social media and urban centers? How do you avoid — as suggested by executives such as Jason Spingarn-Koff,...
- 12/15/2016
- by Anthony Kaufman
- Indiewire
The winners of this year’s jury and special awards were revealed tonight [March 17] at the ceremony hosted by Vanessa Bayer.
SXSW has announced the winners of this year’s Jury and Special Awards.
Trey Edward Shults’ Krisha, expanded from his award-winning short of the same name, was named the Grand Jury winner of the Narrative Feature Competition, with Special Jury Recognition for Visual Excellence going to Creative Control director Benjamin Dickinson.
Grand Jury winner of the Documentary Feature Competition went to Scott Christopherson & Brad Barber’s Peace Officer, with Special Jury Recognition for Directing going to A Woman Like Me directors Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti.
Twinsters directors Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto were awarded Special Jury Recognition for Editing.
Kyle Buchanan, Wesley Morris and Krista Smith made up the Narrative Feature Competition jury, while the Documentary Feature Competition jury consisted of Tabitha Jackson, Jason Spingarn-Koff and Alison Willmore.
Short Film Jury Awards went to the likes...
SXSW has announced the winners of this year’s Jury and Special Awards.
Trey Edward Shults’ Krisha, expanded from his award-winning short of the same name, was named the Grand Jury winner of the Narrative Feature Competition, with Special Jury Recognition for Visual Excellence going to Creative Control director Benjamin Dickinson.
Grand Jury winner of the Documentary Feature Competition went to Scott Christopherson & Brad Barber’s Peace Officer, with Special Jury Recognition for Directing going to A Woman Like Me directors Alex Sichel and Elizabeth Giamatti.
Twinsters directors Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto were awarded Special Jury Recognition for Editing.
Kyle Buchanan, Wesley Morris and Krista Smith made up the Narrative Feature Competition jury, while the Documentary Feature Competition jury consisted of Tabitha Jackson, Jason Spingarn-Koff and Alison Willmore.
Short Film Jury Awards went to the likes...
- 3/18/2015
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
The International Documentary Association (Ida) announced nominations for the 2014 Ida Documentary Awards today, with awards being bestowed December 5th at the Paramount Theatre on the studio lot. The top films nominated in the best feature category include the critically-acclaimed Citizenfour from filmmaker Laura Poitras about Edward Snowden and the state of surveillance of civilians post 9/11 which has been enjoying a theatrical run and Nick Broomfield’s Tales Of The Grim Sleeper about the serial killer who terrorized South Central Los Angeles over 25 years. In the limited series category is Playtone’s CNN doc The Sixties, among others. Best episodic include Oprah Winfrey’s Master Class and HBO’s Vice exec produced by Bill Maher (and others). In addition, Robert Redford will receive the Career Achievement award from the Ida.
Winners in the Best Feature and Best Short categories are selected by Ida’s international membership. Screening committees of industry professionals based in New York City,...
Winners in the Best Feature and Best Short categories are selected by Ida’s international membership. Screening committees of industry professionals based in New York City,...
- 10/29/2014
- by Anita Busch
- Deadline
More than 80 documentaries to receive world premieres.
The line-up for the 27th Idfa (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam) has been unveiled.
A total of 298 titles, selected from 3,200 submissions, will be screened from Nov 19-30 in Amsterdam - of which 81 will receive their world premiere.
This year, a special themed programme, titled The Female Gaze, is dedicated to the role of women in documentary.
Another strand, Of Media and Men, will focus on how opinions are shaped within a democracy through the media.
This year’s Top 10 is provided by Heddy Honigmann, and a retrospective of her work will also be screening. Her film, Around the World in 50 Concerts, opens this year’s Idfa and also plays in Competition.
Idfa and Eye, the Netherlands national museum for film, will be present a joint themed programme concentrating on hybrid film: Framing Reality.
The festival’s main locations will once again be Pathé Tuschinski, Pathé de Munt...
The line-up for the 27th Idfa (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam) has been unveiled.
A total of 298 titles, selected from 3,200 submissions, will be screened from Nov 19-30 in Amsterdam - of which 81 will receive their world premiere.
This year, a special themed programme, titled The Female Gaze, is dedicated to the role of women in documentary.
Another strand, Of Media and Men, will focus on how opinions are shaped within a democracy through the media.
This year’s Top 10 is provided by Heddy Honigmann, and a retrospective of her work will also be screening. Her film, Around the World in 50 Concerts, opens this year’s Idfa and also plays in Competition.
Idfa and Eye, the Netherlands national museum for film, will be present a joint themed programme concentrating on hybrid film: Framing Reality.
The festival’s main locations will once again be Pathé Tuschinski, Pathé de Munt...
- 10/10/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The New York Times' Op-Docs -- the publication's Emmy-nominated video channel for independently minded filmmakers and artists -- is set to host its first-ever live pitch competition at a private event held at The Times' headquarters. Five filmmakers will pitch their Op-Doc ideas to an exclusive audience of industry professionals, and to a jury of Times staff and veteran Op-Docs contributors. The winning pitch will have the chance to produce an Op-Doc for Nyt on a budget of $5,000, and to premiere their short doc on NYTimes.com. Submissions for short docs tailored to the scope and vision of Op-Docs are now open for American documentary filmmakers. Here's how to submit. “Op-Docs has grown to become a meaningful vehicle for some of today’s most imaginative and provocative non-fiction storytellers, and our competitions are an opportunity to involve both emerging and veteran filmmakers,” said Jason Spingarn-Koff, commissioning editor for Opinion video and Op-Docs series.
- 7/17/2014
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
It's no news that digital media has made filmmakers' ability to create content much easier than it's ever been before. But with more accessibility there inevitable come more obstacles throughout the process, not least of which is the increasing competition and the ever-elusive channels of distribution. Fortunately, much light has been shed on the matter by the likes of Oscar-nominated documentarian Morgan Spurlock ("Super-Size Me"), Op-Docs producer and curator Jason Spingarn-Koff, Espn Films' Director of Development Dan Silver ("30 for 30") and actress Gillian Jacobs ("Community," "Life Partners"), all of whom sat down for a panel discussion moderated by General Manager of Audience Networks at Vimeo Greg Clayman at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. Read below to find out what they had to say on the growth of short content and what it means for indie filmmakers: Bigger is not always better. Morgan Spurlock asserted his claim that "there are stories that are made to be.
- 4/28/2014
- by Ziyad Saadi
- Indiewire
Britdoc announced today at Good Pitch Europe that it will be working with The New York Times to support short-form documentaries. The not-for-profit film foundation will give grants to those individual filmmakers chosen by the paper to make original shorts for the website (NYTimes.com) and The New York Times's mobile platforms. "Op-Docs" is an initiative that began in November 2011 for celebrated and emerging filmmakers to share their short docs (less than 10 minutes) as part of the paper's Opinion section. It premieres several times a month and represents an array of styles and subject matters such as current affairs, contemporary life and historical subjects. Independent filmmakers and artists like Errol Morris, Jessica Yu, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, Jon Shenk, Alison Klayman and The Gregory Brothers help produce Op-Docs. Jason Spingarn-Koff, series producer and curator of Op-Docs, called Britdoc "a leader in empowering filmmakers to...
- 6/25/2012
- by Srimathi Sridhar
- Indiewire
Documentary filmmaker Jason Spingarn-Koff ("Life 2.0") has a pretty sweet deal. He gets to work with documentary filmmakers to help them make short videos for one the world's most respected media outlets, The New York Times. Spingarn-Koff, whose own film debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and went on to debut on Own last year, is now working as the first video journalist for the Times's Opinion section and as the producer and curator of the Times's new Op-Docs initiative. With Op-Docs, Spingarn-Koff told Indiewire, "We're trying to create a forum for filmmakers to express themselves using their medium, just like our print Op-Ed contributors use their talents as writers." He continued, "I've been working to create an outlet that's diverse in subject matter but also style. It has a distinct feel from most news. Here we're working with indie filmmakers, animators, artists, to create films...
- 5/11/2012
- by Bryce J. Renninger
- Indiewire
Yesterday I posted a Preview of some of our most anticipated films at this year.s Tribeca Film Festival. Since there are a lot of other things going on besides movie screenings, I thought I.d share with you some of the coolest events also taking place as part of Tff. Unfortunately I will be unable to attend nearly all of these events but hopefully some of you will be able to check them out!
100 Years of Universal
In celebration of 100 years of Universal Pictures, join us for a conversation with iconic actors and directors Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and Judd Apatow as they share their favorite moments and memories from Universal.s extraordinary history. Moderated by Film Editor for Deadline Hollywood Mike Fleming.
****This event will be streamed for Free at TribecaFilm.com today at 3 Pm! ***
Meet The Filmmakers At Apple
The SoHo and 14 St. Apple stores will...
100 Years of Universal
In celebration of 100 years of Universal Pictures, join us for a conversation with iconic actors and directors Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and Judd Apatow as they share their favorite moments and memories from Universal.s extraordinary history. Moderated by Film Editor for Deadline Hollywood Mike Fleming.
****This event will be streamed for Free at TribecaFilm.com today at 3 Pm! ***
Meet The Filmmakers At Apple
The SoHo and 14 St. Apple stores will...
- 4/19/2012
- by Jerry Cavallaro
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Own isn't just four-for-four with its Documentary Club offerings — they're getting better as time goes on. With Life 2.0 (premiering Thursday at 9/8c), director Jason Spingarn-Koff explores Linden Lab's virtual world Second Life, in which people explore and interact in an online universe via avatars of their choice.
It's not quite a game, but how the documentary subjects negotiate the computer world and the real one makes for gripping dramatic tension...
Read More >...
It's not quite a game, but how the documentary subjects negotiate the computer world and the real one makes for gripping dramatic tension...
Read More >...
- 8/25/2011
- by Rich Juzwiak
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Check out this new red-band trailer for Conan the Barbarian. It stars Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, Stephen Lang, Rachel Nichols, and Rose McGowan. It hits theaters August 19. [IGN]
Filmmaker Jason Spingarn-Koff made Life 2.0 about people who embraced the online game “Second Life” to the fullest. They created online personas that were nothing like themselves, met and fell in love with other gamers, and a whole lot more. Online gaming certainly has an immersive subculture, but I wonder how they will treat the subjects in this documentary. It’s easy for them to fall into cliches about gaming addiction and gaming’s inherent worth.
We can hope it’s a unique look, at least. The trailer lends itself to a lot of gamer perspective. Check it out and let us know how you feel about it. [NPR]
The Last Circus (Balada triste de trompeta) is the latest film from Spanish director Álex de la Iglesia.
Filmmaker Jason Spingarn-Koff made Life 2.0 about people who embraced the online game “Second Life” to the fullest. They created online personas that were nothing like themselves, met and fell in love with other gamers, and a whole lot more. Online gaming certainly has an immersive subculture, but I wonder how they will treat the subjects in this documentary. It’s easy for them to fall into cliches about gaming addiction and gaming’s inherent worth.
We can hope it’s a unique look, at least. The trailer lends itself to a lot of gamer perspective. Check it out and let us know how you feel about it. [NPR]
The Last Circus (Balada triste de trompeta) is the latest film from Spanish director Álex de la Iglesia.
- 6/19/2011
- by Catherine
- Movie Gnome
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: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers? Point Blank Trailer It's this time of year when escapism reigns supreme. While I haven't really found anything that satisfies my need for Crank level...
- 6/18/2011
- by Christopher Stipp
- Slash Film
The 2010 edition of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival has just announced their complete Noves Visions program. The program where the festival places the young, edgy material, this is the big discovery program of the festival. Here's the announcement!
Noves Visions, The Most Indie
And Daring Section At Sitges 2010
The 43rd Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place 7 to 17 October, presents its lineup for the Noves Visions section:
Noves Visions - FICCIÓ Section
Exploration of new territories in narration, placing emphasis on both thematic and formal aspects of films that are a vision of the present as well as a disturbing premonition of times to come.
A Horrible Way To Die (Adam Wingard, USA)
Chatroom (Hideo Nakata, UK)
Dispongo De Barcos (Juan Cavestany, Spain)
Earthling (Clay Liford, USA)
Everything Will Be Fine (Christoffer Boe, Denmark)
Finisterrae (Out of competition. Sergio Caballero, Spain)
Isolation (Stephen T. Kay,...
Noves Visions, The Most Indie
And Daring Section At Sitges 2010
The 43rd Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place 7 to 17 October, presents its lineup for the Noves Visions section:
Noves Visions - FICCIÓ Section
Exploration of new territories in narration, placing emphasis on both thematic and formal aspects of films that are a vision of the present as well as a disturbing premonition of times to come.
A Horrible Way To Die (Adam Wingard, USA)
Chatroom (Hideo Nakata, UK)
Dispongo De Barcos (Juan Cavestany, Spain)
Earthling (Clay Liford, USA)
Everything Will Be Fine (Christoffer Boe, Denmark)
Finisterrae (Out of competition. Sergio Caballero, Spain)
Isolation (Stephen T. Kay,...
- 9/24/2010
- Screen Anarchy
It's been called the Cannes of genre cinema an the first wave of programming has been announced for Sitges 2010, a lineup featuring the best in genre film of all types from all around the globe. Here's the full announcement!
The Shining celebrates its 30th anniversary and the 43rd Sitges - International Fantasy Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place from 7 to 17 October, would like pay homage to it through the image for this year's official poster. The Shining (1980), by Stanley Kubrick, is one of the few undoubtedly classic horror films that still holds up with the passage of time, going beyond the genre and the director himself.
The Festival will also be remembering the 25th anniversary of Back to the Future by Robert Zemeckis, offer a special tribute to the deceased Paul Naschy with the screening of the documentary El hombre que vio llorar a Frankenstein, and will be...
The Shining celebrates its 30th anniversary and the 43rd Sitges - International Fantasy Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place from 7 to 17 October, would like pay homage to it through the image for this year's official poster. The Shining (1980), by Stanley Kubrick, is one of the few undoubtedly classic horror films that still holds up with the passage of time, going beyond the genre and the director himself.
The Festival will also be remembering the 25th anniversary of Back to the Future by Robert Zemeckis, offer a special tribute to the deceased Paul Naschy with the screening of the documentary El hombre que vio llorar a Frankenstein, and will be...
- 7/14/2010
- Screen Anarchy
For enthusiasts of Second Life, a 3-D virtual world that enables users to interact with each other through avatars, all the hype surrounding Avatar must have seemed kind of overblown. After all, they’d been living their own science fiction fantasies for years, and their virtual world reflects the fantasies of millions of people, not just Mr. Cameron’s. Last night, Stranger Than Fiction featured a screening of Life 2.0, a dreamy documentary that explores what happens when people start living a Second Life. Director Jason Spingarn-Koff explores the phenomena from the inside – his filmmaker avatar straps on a digital camera and turns its lens on avatars at home in their second world. Among his characters are a couple...
- 5/12/2010
- by Mary Anderson Casavant
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
For enthusiasts of Second Life, a 3-D virtual world that enables users to interact with each other through avatars, all the hype surrounding Avatar must have seemed kind of overblown. After all, they’d been living their own science fiction fantasies for years, and their virtual world reflects the fantasies of millions of people, not just Mr. Cameron’s. Last night, Stranger Than Fiction featured a screening of Life 2.0, a dreamy documentary that explores what happens when people start living a Second Life. Director Jason Spingarn-Koff explores the phenomena from the inside – his filmmaker avatar straps on a digital camera and turns its lens on avatars at home in their second world. Among his characters are a couple...
- 5/12/2010
- by Mary Anderson Casavant
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Much press has been given to Second Life, the virtual world/social network "game" in which participants can live out their fantasies in a polygonal wonderland, free of the restrictions that come with real life. Imagine a perfectly visualized chat room, only with its own user-created socio-economic structure. Companies have found clever ways to monetize the free experience, while over 15 million users work virtual jobs, buy virtual items, have virtual sex, and dance the night away in virtual nightclubs.
Life 2.0, a new documentary by Jason Spingarn-Koff, finds a human story within the world of Second Life, by focusing his attention on the experiences of four of its users. One is a young woman working from her basement, making a six-figure salary designing clothing and houses for sale in Second Life. A male Second Life addict tries to make sense out of his relationship with his created avatar, an eleven-year...
Life 2.0, a new documentary by Jason Spingarn-Koff, finds a human story within the world of Second Life, by focusing his attention on the experiences of four of its users. One is a young woman working from her basement, making a six-figure salary designing clothing and houses for sale in Second Life. A male Second Life addict tries to make sense out of his relationship with his created avatar, an eleven-year...
- 3/18/2010
- by John Gholson
- Cinematical
Less than a week worth of recovering from the Sundance Film Festival, and we are already looking forward to our next, big film fest coverage. That would be the South by Southwest Film Festival held annually in Austin, Texas. Last year, Scott and I brought you all kinds of coverage from the Lone Star State, and this year doesn’t look to be much different.
With that, the announcement came last night of the feature films that will be playing at the SXSW Film Festival. Previous announcement were already made about films like Cold Weather, Electra Luxx, Hubble 3D, Lemmy, Saturday Night, and The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights making their debut. Kick-ass was recently announced as the opening night film, as well.
Among the other films being presented this year are some Sundance darlings, a few, highly anticipated premieres, and MacGruber.
Check out the full list...
With that, the announcement came last night of the feature films that will be playing at the SXSW Film Festival. Previous announcement were already made about films like Cold Weather, Electra Luxx, Hubble 3D, Lemmy, Saturday Night, and The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights making their debut. Kick-ass was recently announced as the opening night film, as well.
Among the other films being presented this year are some Sundance darlings, a few, highly anticipated premieres, and MacGruber.
Check out the full list...
- 2/4/2010
- by Kirk
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Late yesterday the SXSW Fim Festival, which runs from March 12-20 in Austin, TX, announced the full lineup of films that will be screening at this year’s event. And baby, it’s quite a list. Mixing big name films with intimate indie gems, the sheer number of films and the vast array of talented filmmakers is sure to be a hit with attendees and critics alike.
This lineup includes premieres of studio films such as Universal’s MacGruber, Lionsgate’s teen superhero actioneer Kick-Ass and smaller films like Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs, Michel Gondry’s The Thorn in the Heart and Steven Soderbergh’s And Everything Is Going Fine. With so many films to watch, it will be very difficult to find time to seem them all during the events nine days. But hell, we’re going to try.
For more on...
This lineup includes premieres of studio films such as Universal’s MacGruber, Lionsgate’s teen superhero actioneer Kick-Ass and smaller films like Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs, Michel Gondry’s The Thorn in the Heart and Steven Soderbergh’s And Everything Is Going Fine. With so many films to watch, it will be very difficult to find time to seem them all during the events nine days. But hell, we’re going to try.
For more on...
- 2/4/2010
- by Chris Ullrich
- The Flickcast
Director Jason Spingarn-Koff's Avatar
Catfish, GasLand, and Restrepo are the buzziest documentaries this year, but I will assert that Life 2.0, which has lower-level awareness at this point (and no distribution deal) is one of the most potent docs I’m seen at the festival — or anywhere else in quite a while. Jason Spingarn-Koff makes the jump from television documentaries to his first feature doc; better said, he creates his own avatar and enters the 3D virtual world Second Life to chronicle the experiences of four people fully immersed in this environment.
In ascending order of disquieting alternate lives, there’s “Asri,” a 30-year-old woman who awakens around 6pm each day and proceeds to spend the next 15-20 hours online as the owner of a successful clothing store; in first life, “Ayya” is a young married male, but in second life she’s an 11-year-old girl; “Blunty” and “Amie...
Catfish, GasLand, and Restrepo are the buzziest documentaries this year, but I will assert that Life 2.0, which has lower-level awareness at this point (and no distribution deal) is one of the most potent docs I’m seen at the festival — or anywhere else in quite a while. Jason Spingarn-Koff makes the jump from television documentaries to his first feature doc; better said, he creates his own avatar and enters the 3D virtual world Second Life to chronicle the experiences of four people fully immersed in this environment.
In ascending order of disquieting alternate lives, there’s “Asri,” a 30-year-old woman who awakens around 6pm each day and proceeds to spend the next 15-20 hours online as the owner of a successful clothing store; in first life, “Ayya” is a young married male, but in second life she’s an 11-year-old girl; “Blunty” and “Amie...
- 1/29/2010
- by arno
- IMDb Blog - All the Latest
Yet another video review courtesy of SlashFilm featuring our own Brandon Lee Tenney. This time he talks about Life 2.0, a documentary playing at Sundance about the virtual online world of Second Life. Directed by first-time feature filmmaker Jason Spingarn-Koff, the doc follows a group of four people whose lives are dramatically transformed by the virtual world - reshaping relationships, identities, and ultimately the very notion of reality. Brandon is also joined in the video by Peter of SlashFilm and Laremy Legel of Film.com. It seems like they all had mixed reactions to the film. Watch the full Life 2.0 Sundance video review below. A little blurb on Life 2.0 the Sundance Guide: "Director Jason Spingarn-Koff digs deeply into the core of basic human interaction by assuming his own avatar and immersing himself in the worlds of Second Life residents, whose real lives have been drastically transformed by the...
- 1/25/2010
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Second Life launched in June of 2003. Since that time, tens of millions of people across the planet have created alternate realities of themselves, sometimes more realistic than others. Documentary film maker and journalist Jason Spingarn-Koff delves deep into this subculture of the world’s population, creating a documentary where all the characters are chunks of 1s and 0s interacting with one another. Sounds fascinating to say the very least.
Official synopsis:
Every day, across all corners of the globe, hundreds of thousands of users log onto Second Life, a virtual online world not entirely unlike our own. They enter a new reality, whose inhabitants assume alternate personas in the form of avatars—digital alter egos that can be sculpted and manipulated to the heart’s desire, representing reality, fantasy, or a healthy mix of both. Within this alternate landscape, escapism abounds, relationships are formed, and a real-world economy thrives, effectively...
Official synopsis:
Every day, across all corners of the globe, hundreds of thousands of users log onto Second Life, a virtual online world not entirely unlike our own. They enter a new reality, whose inhabitants assume alternate personas in the form of avatars—digital alter egos that can be sculpted and manipulated to the heart’s desire, representing reality, fantasy, or a healthy mix of both. Within this alternate landscape, escapism abounds, relationships are formed, and a real-world economy thrives, effectively...
- 1/12/2010
- by Kirk
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Yesterday we got the list for the films playing in competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and today we get the rest of the films that will be featured and there are quite a few that make 2010 look much stronger based on pedigree alone than I have seen in quite some time. Variety has a big write-up detailing the categories and more on the festival right here, but I am just going to offer up the titles and let you sort it all out.
The titles already in the RopeofSilicon database are linked.
Premieres
All films are from the United States unless otherwise noted Abel (Mexico-u.S.), the directorial debut of actor Diego Luna, written by Luna and Agusto Mendoza, about a peculiar young boy who, as he blurs reality and fantasy, takes over the responsibilities of a family man in his father's absence. With Jose Maria Yazpik, Karina Gidi,...
The titles already in the RopeofSilicon database are linked.
Premieres
All films are from the United States unless otherwise noted Abel (Mexico-u.S.), the directorial debut of actor Diego Luna, written by Luna and Agusto Mendoza, about a peculiar young boy who, as he blurs reality and fantasy, takes over the responsibilities of a family man in his father's absence. With Jose Maria Yazpik, Karina Gidi,...
- 12/3/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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