With awards like the Cinema Eye Honors’ Unforgettables Award, documentary organizations are beginning to draw attention not just to the filmmakers behind documentary cameras but the subjects in front. Still, Britdoc’s latest is utterly original: the world’s first documentary cookbook. Currently fundraising on Kickstarter, the project is a digital download illustrated by Ben Lamb containing savory recipes from documentary subjects all over the world, from Chicago’s Ameena Matthews (from Steve James’ The Interrupters) to Burma’s Joshua Min Htut (Burma VJ) to an as-yet-unrevealed “certain American living somewhere in Russia.” Six of the doc chefs have already been announced, with all […]...
- 11/29/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
With awards like the Cinema Eye Honors’ Unforgettables Award, documentary organizations are beginning to draw attention not just to the filmmakers behind documentary cameras but the subjects in front. Still, Britdoc’s latest is utterly original: the world’s first documentary cookbook. Currently fundraising on Kickstarter, the project is a digital download illustrated by Ben Lamb containing savory recipes from documentary subjects all over the world, from Chicago’s Ameena Matthews (from Steve James’ The Interrupters) to Burma’s Joshua Min Htut (Burma VJ) to an as-yet-unrevealed “certain American living somewhere in Russia.” Six of the doc chefs have already been announced, with all […]...
- 11/29/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Ameena Matthews, CeaseFire violence interrupter, who many of you who saw the documentary would remember, was the firebrand at the center of "The Interrupters" - the critically-acclaimed, award-winning Kartemquin Films release, directed by Steve James. It's a film that was mentioned quite a bit on this blog, during the year of its release (2011), and even prior to that, as it traveled the film festival circuit with much success along the way. I only just learned that Matthews was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January - a type of cancer that starts in the plasma cells in bone marrow. It's news she kept private for many months, until just a few weeks ago, when...
- 9/24/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Full Frame has announced that the festival will screen a collection of Steve James' highly regarded films over the course of the four-day event, and will welcome a variety of subjects featured in these works for Q&As. Arthur Agee, Jr. (Hoop Dreams), Ameena Matthews (The Interrupters), and Reverend Carroll Pickett (At the Death House Door) are expected to attend, along with many of James’s collaborators from Kartemquin Films. Full Frame will also feature “Hoop Dreams at 20,” a panel conversation in celebration of the landmark documentary’s 20th anniversary that will feature outtakes, insider commentary, and special guests. "I'm excited to have so many of my films...
- 3/13/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Bet Networks in partnership with Beverly Bond, the Founder and CEO of Black Girls Rock!, announced today that Patti Labelle (Living Legend Award), Queen Latifah (Rock Star Award), Mara Brock Akil (Shot Caller Award), Venus Williams (Star Power Award), community organizer Ameena Matthews (Community Activist Award), ground-breaking ballet dancer Misty Copeland (Young, Gifted & Black Award), and children’s rights activist Marian Wright Edelman (Social Humanitarian), are the distinguished guests of honor to be celebrated at this year's Black Girls Rock! event. Hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King,...
- 10/15/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
It's a documentary-heavy list this week; no fluffy fiction for you to watch this weekend. Without further ado, here's this week's list of 5: 1 - So you say you missed it when it was in theaters, on PBS and you haven't rented or purchased it on DVD, and you really want to see it? No sweat... Kartemquin Films critically acclaimed, award-winning documentary, The Interrupters, is streaming on Netflix right now. So you're just a few clicks away from meeting The Interrupters, including Ameena Matthews in her fifth year working as a violence interrupter for CeaseFire, as well as Cobe Williams, Eddie Bocanegra, and the Director of CeaseFire...
- 8/16/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
"The Interrupters," a film about former criminals working to stop violence in Chicago, was named best documentary at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday night.
Filmmakers Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz followed the violence interrupters working for Chicago's CeaseFire, an organization founded by Dr. Gary Slutkin. Slutkin believed that violence should be treated like a disease -- and the organization has managed to reduce shootings and killings by 41 to 73 percent, according to an independent evaluation by the Department of Justice.
James' widely acclaimed documentary "Hoop Dreams" was snubbed by the Oscars in 1994, and many were shocked to see the same thing happen with "The Interrupters." But the Independent Spirit Award for "Best Documentary," as Roger Ebert notes, is "no less significant."
“It's really great to win this award and win it the day before the Oscars,” James told the Chicago Tribune after winning the Spirit award Saturday. “It's a great...
Filmmakers Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz followed the violence interrupters working for Chicago's CeaseFire, an organization founded by Dr. Gary Slutkin. Slutkin believed that violence should be treated like a disease -- and the organization has managed to reduce shootings and killings by 41 to 73 percent, according to an independent evaluation by the Department of Justice.
James' widely acclaimed documentary "Hoop Dreams" was snubbed by the Oscars in 1994, and many were shocked to see the same thing happen with "The Interrupters." But the Independent Spirit Award for "Best Documentary," as Roger Ebert notes, is "no less significant."
“It's really great to win this award and win it the day before the Oscars,” James told the Chicago Tribune after winning the Spirit award Saturday. “It's a great...
- 2/26/2012
- by Jen Sabella
- Huffington Post
Chicago – On Sunday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will name what they consider to be the Best Documentary of 2011. They will be wrong. How do I know? Because it’s not even nominated. The actual best documentary of last year (which was a Very good year from the form with everything from “Into the Abyss” to “Tabloid” to “Pearl Jam Twenty” to “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”) was not nominated. That title goes to Steve James’ “The Interrupters,” which was recently released on Blu-ray and DVD and is simply a must-see.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
The people profiled in “The Interrupters” are true heroes. They have been through a darkness that most of you reading this can’t even imagine and they didn’t come through it shell-shocked or afraid; they came through it wanting to make a difference in the world. Where most people see a lost cause or something that demands a forceful response,...
Rating: 5.0/5.0
The people profiled in “The Interrupters” are true heroes. They have been through a darkness that most of you reading this can’t even imagine and they didn’t come through it shell-shocked or afraid; they came through it wanting to make a difference in the world. Where most people see a lost cause or something that demands a forceful response,...
- 2/22/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Each week within this column Spirit Award voter & film critic Kristy Puchko will offer a keen insight on a new selection of nominees for the 2012 Spirit Awards, along with any garnered behind-the-scenes exclusives. The Spirit Awards will air February 25th @10Pm on IFC.
Last week I shared my thoughts on some of the films I loathed this year, and so am thrilled to share some of my favorites from this year’s Spirit line-up with you today. Let’s get to it.
The Interrupters ~ Directed by Steve James
Nominations: Best Documentary
“I can’t aid and abed shit. I flush shit,” these are the tough love words of Ameena Matthews, a former gang member turned violence interrupter who dedicates herself and her time to the rage-filled residents of Chicago, counseling them to stop the gang violence that has long-ravaged the community. Hoop Dreams director Steve James dives deep into the...
Last week I shared my thoughts on some of the films I loathed this year, and so am thrilled to share some of my favorites from this year’s Spirit line-up with you today. Let’s get to it.
The Interrupters ~ Directed by Steve James
Nominations: Best Documentary
“I can’t aid and abed shit. I flush shit,” these are the tough love words of Ameena Matthews, a former gang member turned violence interrupter who dedicates herself and her time to the rage-filled residents of Chicago, counseling them to stop the gang violence that has long-ravaged the community. Hoop Dreams director Steve James dives deep into the...
- 2/7/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
One of the stars of the critically-acclaimed documentary "The Interrupters," called "the most necessary film of the year" by Slatelast year, was interviewed Wednesday on "The Colbert Report" a matter of weeks before the film makes its Feb. 14 television debut on PBS's Frontline.
Ameena Matthews is one of the "interrupters" who work with Chicago-based anti-violence group CeaseFire, an innovative organization that aims to decrease the brutal violence that continues to disproportionately impact the city's poor, urban neighborhoods through a peer-based public health-oriented approach. CeaseFire's model, pioneered by epidemiologist Gary Slutkin, has been replicated in a number of other cities around the world who also struggling with street violence, most recently in Philadelphia, Baltimore and London.
"She should have Michelle Pfeiffer teach them poetry," host Stephen Colbert suggested as he introduced Matthews.
Colbert, finding common ground with Matthews, said he, too, is an interrupter, before he noted that interrupting violence is...
Ameena Matthews is one of the "interrupters" who work with Chicago-based anti-violence group CeaseFire, an innovative organization that aims to decrease the brutal violence that continues to disproportionately impact the city's poor, urban neighborhoods through a peer-based public health-oriented approach. CeaseFire's model, pioneered by epidemiologist Gary Slutkin, has been replicated in a number of other cities around the world who also struggling with street violence, most recently in Philadelphia, Baltimore and London.
"She should have Michelle Pfeiffer teach them poetry," host Stephen Colbert suggested as he introduced Matthews.
Colbert, finding common ground with Matthews, said he, too, is an interrupter, before he noted that interrupting violence is...
- 2/2/2012
- by Joseph Erbentraut
- Huffington Post
One of the stars of the critically-acclaimed documentary "The Interrupters," called "the most necessary film of the year" by Slatelast year, was interviewed Wednesday on "The Colbert Report" a matter of weeks before the film makes its Feb. 14 television debut on PBS's Frontline.
Ameena Matthews is one of the "interrupters" who work with Chicago-based anti-violence group CeaseFire, an innovative organization that aims to decrease the brutal violence that continues to disproportionately impact the city's poor, urban neighborhoods through a peer-based public health-oriented approach. CeaseFire's model, pioneered by epidemiologist Gary Slutkin, has been replicated in a number of other cities around the world who also struggling with street violence, most recently in Philadelphia, Baltimore and London.
"She should have Michelle Pfeiffer teach them poetry," host Stephen Colbert suggested as he introduced Matthews.
Colbert, finding common ground with Matthews, said he, too, is an interrupter, before he noted that interrupting violence is...
Ameena Matthews is one of the "interrupters" who work with Chicago-based anti-violence group CeaseFire, an innovative organization that aims to decrease the brutal violence that continues to disproportionately impact the city's poor, urban neighborhoods through a peer-based public health-oriented approach. CeaseFire's model, pioneered by epidemiologist Gary Slutkin, has been replicated in a number of other cities around the world who also struggling with street violence, most recently in Philadelphia, Baltimore and London.
"She should have Michelle Pfeiffer teach them poetry," host Stephen Colbert suggested as he introduced Matthews.
Colbert, finding common ground with Matthews, said he, too, is an interrupter, before he noted that interrupting violence is...
- 2/2/2012
- by Joseph Erbentraut
- Aol TV.
Ameena Matthews, one of the most visible members of the Chicago gang violence cessation group CeaseFire and one of the most beloved stars of Steve James' documentary about the group, "The Interrupters," made a trip to the Colbert Report last night to promote the February 14 airing of the film on PBS's Frontline. "The Interrupters" follows Matthews and her CeaseFire colleagues as they use street-level tactics to fight gang violence in Chicago's Englewood community. The film won the Cinema Eye Honors award for best film earlier this year, but has been snubbed by the Oscars. Time Magazine named Matthews' performance the 5th best on film in 2011. Check out Indiewire's interview with Matthews here. Sporting a flashy pair of lightning bolt earrings, Matthews schools Stephen on what it means to be an interrupter and why her work is important: The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political...
- 2/2/2012
- Indiewire
At last night's documentary community love fest that is the annual Cinema Eye Honors, Steve James' Oscar-snubbed "The Interrupters" took home the award for best feature film and best director. "The Interrupters" examines a group of Chicago citizens who organize to intervene in street disputes. "Tonight, I really don't care about the Oscars," said James. Ameena Matthews, the charismatic subject of his film who was recently named 2011's best film performance by Time Magazine, countered, "I still care about the Oscars!" Cindy Meehl's horse-whisperer documentary "Buck" won the Audience Choice Prize. After receiving the inaugural Hell Yeah Prize, given to honor a documentary with real-world impact, "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" director Joe Berlinger recounted the experience of debuting the first "Paradise Lost" film on HBO. "Something magical happened," Berlinger...
- 1/12/2012
- Indiewire
Chicago – Life was a happy song at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards night, which celebrated the best cinematic achievements of 2011, while presenting honorary awards to some very special guests. The event was held January 7 at the Broadway Playhouse, and was highlighted by appearances from some of the brightest talents in show business.
Jason Segel, the exuberant star of “Freaks and Geeks,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “How I Met Your Mother,” was honored with the Comedia Extraordinaire Award for his triumphant efforts to resurrect the late Jim Henson’s waning franchise by co-writing and acting in “The Muppets.” At a press conference prior to the awards show, Segel was characteristically humble and self-deprecating while reflecting on his own work. In the case of his “Muppet” co-stars, he had nothing but praise.
“Working with [Amy Adams] and Chris Cooper, I realized why those people get nominated for awards and I don’t,” said Segel.
Jason Segel, the exuberant star of “Freaks and Geeks,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “How I Met Your Mother,” was honored with the Comedia Extraordinaire Award for his triumphant efforts to resurrect the late Jim Henson’s waning franchise by co-writing and acting in “The Muppets.” At a press conference prior to the awards show, Segel was characteristically humble and self-deprecating while reflecting on his own work. In the case of his “Muppet” co-stars, he had nothing but praise.
“Working with [Amy Adams] and Chris Cooper, I realized why those people get nominated for awards and I don’t,” said Segel.
- 1/10/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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