Documentary short “Alt Shift Life,” by Oscar nominee Laura Checkoway (“Edith+Eddie”) will premiere during the Tribeca Film Festival in June.
The film examines the impact of AI on the modern job market and rather than evoking fear as some portrayals of AI do, it provides a perspective of hope for individuals navigating the competitive landscape. To illustrate this the film uses the prism of ServiceNow’s RiseUp program that empowers diverse talents to secure career opportunities.
Weaving together stories from India, rural Tennessee, and the Bronx, “Alt Shift Life” explores the lives of Sai, Scott, and DeVonn, depicting their real-world struggles and promising futures.
Sai is a young woman from a small town in India who moves to India’s Silicon Valley, Bangalore, to pursue a degree in software engineering. Hailing from a community where women are partnered at an early age through an arranged marriage and destined to...
The film examines the impact of AI on the modern job market and rather than evoking fear as some portrayals of AI do, it provides a perspective of hope for individuals navigating the competitive landscape. To illustrate this the film uses the prism of ServiceNow’s RiseUp program that empowers diverse talents to secure career opportunities.
Weaving together stories from India, rural Tennessee, and the Bronx, “Alt Shift Life” explores the lives of Sai, Scott, and DeVonn, depicting their real-world struggles and promising futures.
Sai is a young woman from a small town in India who moves to India’s Silicon Valley, Bangalore, to pursue a degree in software engineering. Hailing from a community where women are partnered at an early age through an arranged marriage and destined to...
- 5/6/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
New York – The 21st Tribeca Film Festival announced their Jury Prizes for 2022 on June 16th. Best U.S. Narrative was rewarded to “Good Girl Jane,” an adolescent story of young love, written/directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz. Best International Narrative goes to “January” and Best Documentary is “The Cave of Adullam.”
“January” is a Lativian/Lithuanian/Polish production concerning an aspiring filmmaker searching for “sides” in the backdrop of Latvian independence, directed by Viesturs Kairiss. “The Cave of Adullam” (USA) regards raising boys under the auspice of martial arts, and it’s directed by Laura Checkoway.
Best U.S. Narrative Feature for 2022 is ‘Good Girl Jane,’ directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival
Awards were distributed in the following feature film competition categories – U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, Documentary, New Narrative Director, and the Nora Ephron Prize, honoring a woman writer or director. Awards were also given...
“January” is a Lativian/Lithuanian/Polish production concerning an aspiring filmmaker searching for “sides” in the backdrop of Latvian independence, directed by Viesturs Kairiss. “The Cave of Adullam” (USA) regards raising boys under the auspice of martial arts, and it’s directed by Laura Checkoway.
Best U.S. Narrative Feature for 2022 is ‘Good Girl Jane,’ directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz
Photo credit: Tribeca Film Festival
Awards were distributed in the following feature film competition categories – U.S. Narrative, International Narrative, Documentary, New Narrative Director, and the Nora Ephron Prize, honoring a woman writer or director. Awards were also given...
- 6/17/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Coming-of-age drama Good Girl Jane, written and directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz, took the Tribeca Festival Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature on Thursday while its star Rain Spencer won for Best Performance at the fest, which announced its winners ahead of wrapping this weekend.
The film follows lonely teenager Jane, bullied out of private school and at odds with her divorced parents, who spirals out of control after falling in with a hard-partying crowd and becoming smitten with a dangerously charismatic bad boy, played by Patrick Gibson. Andie MacDowell is Jane’s beleaguered mom. It’s produced by Fred Bernstein, Dominique Telson, Lauren Pratt, Mintz and Simone Williams.
January (Janvaris) by Viesturs Kairiss, from Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, about an aspiring filmmaker searching for identity against the backdrop of Latvian independence, was named Best International Narrative Feature.
Best Documentary Feature and Editing awards went Laura Checkoway’s The Cave of Adullam.
The film follows lonely teenager Jane, bullied out of private school and at odds with her divorced parents, who spirals out of control after falling in with a hard-partying crowd and becoming smitten with a dangerously charismatic bad boy, played by Patrick Gibson. Andie MacDowell is Jane’s beleaguered mom. It’s produced by Fred Bernstein, Dominique Telson, Lauren Pratt, Mintz and Simone Williams.
January (Janvaris) by Viesturs Kairiss, from Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, about an aspiring filmmaker searching for identity against the backdrop of Latvian independence, was named Best International Narrative Feature.
Best Documentary Feature and Editing awards went Laura Checkoway’s The Cave of Adullam.
- 6/16/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2022 Tribeca Festival has officially announced the slate of award-winning films, marking the end of the 21st annual event.
Presented by Okx, the Tribeca Festival unveiled the winning storytellers in its competition categories on June 16 at the awards ceremony at New York City restaurant Thalassa. Awards were given in the following competition categories: Feature Film, Short Film, Audio Storytelling, Immersive, Games, Human/Nature, and Tribeca X.
“Good Girl Jane” took home the top prize, the Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature. Written and directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz, the film marked its World Premiere at the festival. “Good Girl Jane” follows a private school dropout teen who falls in love with a charismatic drug dealer. Lead star Rain Spencer also won Best Performance for her turn as Jane.
Latvian drama “January (Janvaris)” won Best International Narrative Feature. Written and directed by Viesturs Kairiss it’s about an aspiring...
Presented by Okx, the Tribeca Festival unveiled the winning storytellers in its competition categories on June 16 at the awards ceremony at New York City restaurant Thalassa. Awards were given in the following competition categories: Feature Film, Short Film, Audio Storytelling, Immersive, Games, Human/Nature, and Tribeca X.
“Good Girl Jane” took home the top prize, the Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature. Written and directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz, the film marked its World Premiere at the festival. “Good Girl Jane” follows a private school dropout teen who falls in love with a charismatic drug dealer. Lead star Rain Spencer also won Best Performance for her turn as Jane.
Latvian drama “January (Janvaris)” won Best International Narrative Feature. Written and directed by Viesturs Kairiss it’s about an aspiring...
- 6/16/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Tribeca Film Festival wrapped up its competition Thursday by announcing awards for “Good Girl Jane,” “January (Janvaris)” and “The Cave of Adullam,” among other films.
Sarah Elizabeth Mintz’ “Good Girl Jane,” about a lonely, bullied high schooler lured into the hard-partying scene by a charming bad boy, took home the Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature. Its star, Rain Spencer (“The Summer I Turned Pretty) also picked up the award for Best Performance in a U.S. narrative film.
The top prize for international narrative feature went to Latvian coming-of-age drama “January (Janvaris),” written and directed by Viesturs Kairiss. The film follows an aspiring filmmaker who tries to figure out who he is amidst the struggle for Latvian independence.
Also Read:
‘Tíu’ Film Review: Icelandic Band Of Men and Monsters’ Documentary Is an Intimate Gem
Best Documentary Feature was awarded to “The Cave of Adullam,” Laura Checkoway’s portrait of sensei Jason Wilson,...
Sarah Elizabeth Mintz’ “Good Girl Jane,” about a lonely, bullied high schooler lured into the hard-partying scene by a charming bad boy, took home the Founders’ Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature. Its star, Rain Spencer (“The Summer I Turned Pretty) also picked up the award for Best Performance in a U.S. narrative film.
The top prize for international narrative feature went to Latvian coming-of-age drama “January (Janvaris),” written and directed by Viesturs Kairiss. The film follows an aspiring filmmaker who tries to figure out who he is amidst the struggle for Latvian independence.
Also Read:
‘Tíu’ Film Review: Icelandic Band Of Men and Monsters’ Documentary Is an Intimate Gem
Best Documentary Feature was awarded to “The Cave of Adullam,” Laura Checkoway’s portrait of sensei Jason Wilson,...
- 6/16/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
The Laurence Fishburne-produced and Laura Checkoway-directed documentary, The Cave of Adullam, which premieres tonight at the Tribeca film festival, and repped by CAA Media Finance, ICM Partners and Paradigm–is a love letter to masculine vulnerability. Cave leader Jason Wilson uses a quote from Frederick Douglas for reference, “It’s easier to raise boys than repair broken men.” Through martial arts, meditation, discipline, and emotional expression, he’s helping the young men of Detroit create a new way of living beyond the temptations of crime and gang culture.
His teachings encourage young men to cry, be upset, and be okay with expressing their feelings, which forgoes the idea that Black men must bottle up their feelings because it’s not what men do. The film follows four young men as Wilson reprograms their understanding of masculinity and gives them problem-solving tools to break the generational trauma of manhood.
His teachings encourage young men to cry, be upset, and be okay with expressing their feelings, which forgoes the idea that Black men must bottle up their feelings because it’s not what men do. The film follows four young men as Wilson reprograms their understanding of masculinity and gives them problem-solving tools to break the generational trauma of manhood.
- 6/13/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Feature documentary, The Cave of Adullam, is set to world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival on Monday, June 13. Directed by Academy Award and Emmy nominated filmmaker Laura Checkoway, the film is produced by Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland of Cinema Gypsy Productions, Banca Studio’s Roy Bank, and Wavelength’s Founder & CEO Jenifer Westphal and President Joe Plummer.
The Cave Adullam follows author Jason Wilson and depicts a rarely seen and raw approach of initiating young Black boys into adulthood at his martial arts dojo in inner-city Detroit, aptly called The Cave of Adullam.
While using the mantra “it’s easier to raise boys than repair broken men”, Jason’s methodology teaches emotional stability instead of discipline, setting vulnerable children on a new path to become whole adults. As the film follows four young recruits, all at various crossroads in their lives, Jason guides them into confronting their inner struggles – overcoming issues with anger,...
The Cave Adullam follows author Jason Wilson and depicts a rarely seen and raw approach of initiating young Black boys into adulthood at his martial arts dojo in inner-city Detroit, aptly called The Cave of Adullam.
While using the mantra “it’s easier to raise boys than repair broken men”, Jason’s methodology teaches emotional stability instead of discipline, setting vulnerable children on a new path to become whole adults. As the film follows four young recruits, all at various crossroads in their lives, Jason guides them into confronting their inner struggles – overcoming issues with anger,...
- 5/31/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The festival is set to take place from June 8-19, and features 88 world premieres.
Tribeca has unveiled its 2022 line-up, with world premieres including Joachim Back’s Corner Office starring Jon Hamm and Danny Pudi, and Ray Romano’s directorial debut, Somewhere In Queens. Josh Alexander’s Loudmouth is set to close the festival.
The 21st edition is to take place in New York from June 8-19, with 88 world premieres across its 10 categories, showcasing 109 feature films and 16 online premieres from 150 filmmakers across 40 countries. The Tribeca At Home platform will allow US audiences to watch a selection of films online from June...
Tribeca has unveiled its 2022 line-up, with world premieres including Joachim Back’s Corner Office starring Jon Hamm and Danny Pudi, and Ray Romano’s directorial debut, Somewhere In Queens. Josh Alexander’s Loudmouth is set to close the festival.
The 21st edition is to take place in New York from June 8-19, with 88 world premieres across its 10 categories, showcasing 109 feature films and 16 online premieres from 150 filmmakers across 40 countries. The Tribeca At Home platform will allow US audiences to watch a selection of films online from June...
- 4/19/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
At the 2018 Oscars, Frances McDormand, who won her second Best Actress Academy Award for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” asked all the female nominees to stand. Ten women will always be nominated by the academy: five for Best Actress and another five for Best Supporting Actress. Besides these other nine women, how many others were on their feet in the Dolby Theater?
Of the 20 non-gender specific categories, women were contenders in 17 of them; they were shut out of Original Score (5 men), Sound Editing (9 men) and Visual Effects (20 men). As you can see below, 47 women other than actresses were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Of these, only four won Oscars. By comparison, 151 men other than actors were nominated and 32 took home Oscars.
Only one category — Costume Design — had more women contending then men but the winner was a man: Mark Bridges (“Phantom Thread”), who also picked up the jet ski for the shortest acceptance speech.
Of the 20 non-gender specific categories, women were contenders in 17 of them; they were shut out of Original Score (5 men), Sound Editing (9 men) and Visual Effects (20 men). As you can see below, 47 women other than actresses were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Of these, only four won Oscars. By comparison, 151 men other than actors were nominated and 32 took home Oscars.
Only one category — Costume Design — had more women contending then men but the winner was a man: Mark Bridges (“Phantom Thread”), who also picked up the jet ski for the shortest acceptance speech.
- 1/1/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Chicago – It was an amazing Oscar season in 2018 for Chicago-based Kartemquin Films. Two of the their documentary film productions, “Edith + Eddie” by director Laura Checkoway and “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” by Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”) were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Both films will be showcased at the Midwest Independent Film Festival on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago For more information, ticket purchasing, click here.
‘Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,’ Directed by Steve James
Photo credit: PBS Distribution
“Edith + Eddie” was nominated in the Documentary Short category at the 2018 Oscars, and involves an interracial couple who are age 96 and 95, threatened by a family feud that might tear them apart. “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” is about a small bank in New York City’s Chinatown, who became a scapegoat during the 2008 financial and banking crisis, and was Oscar nominated for Documentary Feature.
‘Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,’ Directed by Steve James
Photo credit: PBS Distribution
“Edith + Eddie” was nominated in the Documentary Short category at the 2018 Oscars, and involves an interracial couple who are age 96 and 95, threatened by a family feud that might tear them apart. “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” is about a small bank in New York City’s Chinatown, who became a scapegoat during the 2008 financial and banking crisis, and was Oscar nominated for Documentary Feature.
- 4/2/2018
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Ten women will always be nominated for Oscars: five for Best Actress and another five for Best Supporting Actress. At the 2018 Oscars, Frances McDormand, who won her second Best Actress Academy Award for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” asked all the female nominees to stand. As you can see from the video above, she asked rival acting nominee Meryl Streep (“The Post”) to lead the way and this 21-time Oscar nominee obliged. Besides the other eight actresses nominated, how many other women were on their feet in the Dolby theater?
Of the 20 non-gender specific categories, women were contenders in 17 of them; they were shut out of Original Score (5 men), Sound Editing (9 men) and Visual Effects (20 men). As you can see below, 47 women other than actresses were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Of these, only four won Oscars. By comparison, 151 men other than actors were nominated and 32 took home Oscars.
Of the 20 non-gender specific categories, women were contenders in 17 of them; they were shut out of Original Score (5 men), Sound Editing (9 men) and Visual Effects (20 men). As you can see below, 47 women other than actresses were nominated at the 90th Academy Awards. Of these, only four won Oscars. By comparison, 151 men other than actors were nominated and 32 took home Oscars.
- 3/5/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 2018 Academy Awards took place on March 4 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The 90th annual ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. The full list of winners is below.
Supporting Actor:
Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”
Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water”
Christopher Plummer, “All the Money in the World”
Makeup and Hair:
“Darkest Hour,” Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski, Lucy Sibbick
“Victoria and Abdul,” Daniel Phillips and Lou Sheppard
“Wonder,” Arjen Tuiten
Costume Design:
“Phantom Thread,” Mark Bridges
“Beauty and the Beast,” Jacqueline Durran
“Darkest Hour,” Jacqueline Durran
“The Shape of Water,” Luis Sequeira
“Victoria and Abdul,” Consolata Boyle
Best Documentary Feature:
“Icarus,” Bryan Fogel, Dan Cogan
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” Steve James, Mark Mitten, Julie Goldman
“Faces Places,” Jr, Agnès Varda, Rosalie Varda
“Last Men in Aleppo,” Feras Fayyad, Kareem Abeed, Soren Steen Jepersen
“Strong Island,...
Supporting Actor:
Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”
Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water”
Christopher Plummer, “All the Money in the World”
Makeup and Hair:
“Darkest Hour,” Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski, Lucy Sibbick
“Victoria and Abdul,” Daniel Phillips and Lou Sheppard
“Wonder,” Arjen Tuiten
Costume Design:
“Phantom Thread,” Mark Bridges
“Beauty and the Beast,” Jacqueline Durran
“Darkest Hour,” Jacqueline Durran
“The Shape of Water,” Luis Sequeira
“Victoria and Abdul,” Consolata Boyle
Best Documentary Feature:
“Icarus,” Bryan Fogel, Dan Cogan
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” Steve James, Mark Mitten, Julie Goldman
“Faces Places,” Jr, Agnès Varda, Rosalie Varda
“Last Men in Aleppo,” Feras Fayyad, Kareem Abeed, Soren Steen Jepersen
“Strong Island,...
- 3/5/2018
- by William Earl
- Indiewire
MaryAnn’s quick take… My pick: “Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405,” a marvelous portrait of artist Mindy Alper, one that challenges us all to know ourselves as well as she seems to, even when it’s incredibly painful. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Remarkable women who are enduring, pushing for change, and finding themselves are at the heart of the majority of these short documentaries. This is one of the few Oscars categories in which women make good showings behind the camera, too, and that’s true this year as well, with three of the five nominated films the work of female directors.
The deliciously titled “Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405” [IMDb|official site], from filmmaker Frank Stiefel, is, I suspect, about to win the Oscar for its marvelously moving portrait of Los Angeles artist Mindy Alper.
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Remarkable women who are enduring, pushing for change, and finding themselves are at the heart of the majority of these short documentaries. This is one of the few Oscars categories in which women make good showings behind the camera, too, and that’s true this year as well, with three of the five nominated films the work of female directors.
The deliciously titled “Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405” [IMDb|official site], from filmmaker Frank Stiefel, is, I suspect, about to win the Oscar for its marvelously moving portrait of Los Angeles artist Mindy Alper.
- 3/5/2018
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
The 7,258 voting members had their work cut out for them when casting their ballots for the 90th Oscars. With 24 competitive award categories, the winners will be revealed in what has been one of the tightest Best Picture races in recent memory. There is no clear frontrunner.
33 million Americans watched the 89th Oscars and with audience favorites such as Get Out and Coco in the race, Hollywood is preparing for the biggest night of the year when the eyes of the world tune in to see the 90th Academy Awards. An estimated several hundred million worldwide will watch the nominated actresses, actors and filmmakers walk the red carpet.
Here’s our predix so you can fill out your ballot this Sunday. We’ve even provided you one for you to print out!
Click here:
2018-Oscar-Ballot
Nominations By Category – 90Th Awards
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Timothée Chalamet in...
33 million Americans watched the 89th Oscars and with audience favorites such as Get Out and Coco in the race, Hollywood is preparing for the biggest night of the year when the eyes of the world tune in to see the 90th Academy Awards. An estimated several hundred million worldwide will watch the nominated actresses, actors and filmmakers walk the red carpet.
Here’s our predix so you can fill out your ballot this Sunday. We’ve even provided you one for you to print out!
Click here:
2018-Oscar-Ballot
Nominations By Category – 90Th Awards
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Timothée Chalamet in...
- 3/4/2018
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Can love survive being attacked by outside forces? That’s the question that is at the center of “Edith+Eddie,” one of the five nominees for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 90th Oscars. The film marks the first nomination for both Laura Checkoway and Thomas Lee Wright. The film has also won awards at several festivals and ceremonies including being named Best Short by the International Documentary Association Awards.
The film centers around Edith Hill and Eddie Harrison, a newlywed couple at the respective ages of 96 and 95. Hill and Harrison are living in Alexandria, Virginia and while Edith does have mild dementia, both take care of each other with the assistance of one of Edith’s daughters, Rebecca. But Edith’s other daughter, Patricia who lives in Florida, does not look kindly on the relationship as she believes it will interfere with her inheritance. Patricia gets a judge to...
The film centers around Edith Hill and Eddie Harrison, a newlywed couple at the respective ages of 96 and 95. Hill and Harrison are living in Alexandria, Virginia and while Edith does have mild dementia, both take care of each other with the assistance of one of Edith’s daughters, Rebecca. But Edith’s other daughter, Patricia who lives in Florida, does not look kindly on the relationship as she believes it will interfere with her inheritance. Patricia gets a judge to...
- 2/28/2018
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Cher isn’t necessarily a name you’d expect to see listed as an executive producer on an Oscar-nominated documentary short, but that’s exactly what happened after the 71-year-old icon got involved with Eddie Harrison and Edith Hill, an interracial couple who got married in their 90s — then were forced to separate by Hill’s family, as Laura Checkoway’s heartbreaking doc Edith+Eddie reveals.
How did you first hear about Edith and Eddie’s story?
It was on television. It showed this man and this woman dancing, and they were just so lovely, they were such a beautiful couple and so happy and kind,...
How did you first hear about Edith and Eddie’s story?
It was on television. It showed this man and this woman dancing, and they were just so lovely, they were such a beautiful couple and so happy and kind,...
- 2/23/2018
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Three of the most difficult categories to call every year at the Oscars are those of the short films. They lack precursor prizes and, in many cases, visibility. If you are not able to see these films before the Academy Awards on March 4, don’t worry: we’ve got you covered. Below is our take on the five nominees for Best Documentary Short.
A screening committee drawn from documentary branch members winnowed a field of 77 entries down to 10 semi-finalists for the Best Documentary Short Oscar using an averaged scoring system. As with the last two years, this marks an increase from the eight it has been in the past. All members of the branch could take part in the second round which was done by preferential voting. All members of the academy will receive DVDs of the five nominees and can vote for the winner.
See 2018 Oscars: Best Live Action...
A screening committee drawn from documentary branch members winnowed a field of 77 entries down to 10 semi-finalists for the Best Documentary Short Oscar using an averaged scoring system. As with the last two years, this marks an increase from the eight it has been in the past. All members of the branch could take part in the second round which was done by preferential voting. All members of the academy will receive DVDs of the five nominees and can vote for the winner.
See 2018 Oscars: Best Live Action...
- 2/22/2018
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
It’s a close race between “Edith+Eddie” and “Heroin(e),” but the former is slightly more moving and that may be enough. [Posted Feb. 19]
1. “Edith+Eddie,” Laura Checkoway, Thomas Lee Wright
2. “Heroin(e),” Elaine McMillion Sheldon, Kerrin Sheldon
3. “Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405,” Frank Stiefel
4. “Knife Skills,” Thomas Lennon
5. “Traffic Stop,” Kate Davis, David Heilbroner
Current predictions:
Best Picture
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Director
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
Editing
Cinematography
Production Design
Original Score
Best Song
Costumes
Sound Mixing
Sound Editing
Documentary
Foreign Language Film
Animated Feature Film
Makeup and Hairstyling
Visual Effects
Documentary Short
Live Action Short
Animated Short...
1. “Edith+Eddie,” Laura Checkoway, Thomas Lee Wright
2. “Heroin(e),” Elaine McMillion Sheldon, Kerrin Sheldon
3. “Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405,” Frank Stiefel
4. “Knife Skills,” Thomas Lennon
5. “Traffic Stop,” Kate Davis, David Heilbroner
Current predictions:
Best Picture
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Director
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
Editing
Cinematography
Production Design
Original Score
Best Song
Costumes
Sound Mixing
Sound Editing
Documentary
Foreign Language Film
Animated Feature Film
Makeup and Hairstyling
Visual Effects
Documentary Short
Live Action Short
Animated Short...
- 2/20/2018
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
Topic Studios has picked up the streaming rights to Edith+Eddie, the short documentary which will be vying for the Oscar statue next month. Directed by Laura Checkoway and exec produced by award-winning actress/singer Cher, the doc follows America’s oldest interracial newlyweds at age 96 and 95. Their love story is disrupted by a family feud that threatens to tear the couple apart. The short is already a winner. It has picked up best short prizes at the 2017 International…...
- 2/7/2018
- Deadline
Ahead of the Academy Awards, we’re reviewing each short category. See the Documentary section below and the other shorts sections here.
Edith+Eddie – USA – 29 minutes
You hear horror stories of people who foster children in order to pocket the money they receive from the state meant for that child’s wellbeing and want to hope they’re the exceptions rather than rule. It’s easy to be cynical, however, and believe the opposite in this world. The same can be said about elder care and the often-tenuous relationships between children of aging parents with increasing struggles. Infighting is common because not every child is as well off as the next or as close. Suddenly a consensus can’t be reached and a third party guardian is appointed as power of attorney. Now that elderly parent who doesn’t know or understand what’s happening must relinquish their control to...
Edith+Eddie – USA – 29 minutes
You hear horror stories of people who foster children in order to pocket the money they receive from the state meant for that child’s wellbeing and want to hope they’re the exceptions rather than rule. It’s easy to be cynical, however, and believe the opposite in this world. The same can be said about elder care and the often-tenuous relationships between children of aging parents with increasing struggles. Infighting is common because not every child is as well off as the next or as close. Suddenly a consensus can’t be reached and a third party guardian is appointed as power of attorney. Now that elderly parent who doesn’t know or understand what’s happening must relinquish their control to...
- 2/7/2018
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
“Edith+Eddie” director Laura Checkoway was first drawn to telling the story of two recently married nonagenarians when a friend sent her a photo of the happy couple. “I just kept staring into their eyes in the picture and wanted to know more about them,” she explains. Particularly, she wanted to explore “what it would be like to find love at that time in your life.” Her film, an Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Short, follows the titular pair, who at ages 96 and 95 are America’s oldest interracial newlyweds. But their story becomes unexpectedly heartbreaking. Watch our exclusive video interview with Checkoway above.
See 2018 Oscar nominations: Full list of Academy Awards nominees in all 24 categories
Luckily for Checkoway, Edith and Eddie were more than happy to welcome cameras into their lives. “They were proud of the love they had found with each other,” the filmmaker recalls. That love “felt like something to cherish,...
See 2018 Oscar nominations: Full list of Academy Awards nominees in all 24 categories
Luckily for Checkoway, Edith and Eddie were more than happy to welcome cameras into their lives. “They were proud of the love they had found with each other,” the filmmaker recalls. That love “felt like something to cherish,...
- 2/6/2018
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
Earlier today the folks at the Northwest Film Center announced the full line-up for this year’s Portland International Film Festival, and have published a Pdf for all to read online. The printed copies will be making their way around town this week.
The Northwest Film Center is proud to reveal the 41st Portland International Film Festival (Piff 41) lineup. This year’s Festival begins on Thursday, February 15th and runs through Thursday, March 1st. Our Opening Night selection is the new comedy The Death of Stalin from writer/director Armando Iannucci (Veep, In the Loop). The film, adapted from the graphic novel by Fabien Nury, stars Steve Buscemi, Olga Kurylenko, Jason Isaacs, and Michael Palin. The Death of Stalin will screen simultaneously on Opening Night at the Whitsell Auditorium, located in the Portland Art Museum (1219 Sw Park Ave) and on two screens at Regal Fox Tower 10 (846 Sw Park Ave).
Check...
The Northwest Film Center is proud to reveal the 41st Portland International Film Festival (Piff 41) lineup. This year’s Festival begins on Thursday, February 15th and runs through Thursday, March 1st. Our Opening Night selection is the new comedy The Death of Stalin from writer/director Armando Iannucci (Veep, In the Loop). The film, adapted from the graphic novel by Fabien Nury, stars Steve Buscemi, Olga Kurylenko, Jason Isaacs, and Michael Palin. The Death of Stalin will screen simultaneously on Opening Night at the Whitsell Auditorium, located in the Portland Art Museum (1219 Sw Park Ave) and on two screens at Regal Fox Tower 10 (846 Sw Park Ave).
Check...
- 1/30/2018
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
Countdown to the Oscars and the Biggest show in Hollywood happened Tuesday morning as the nominations for the 90th Academy Awards were announced from AMPAS headquarters at the Samuel Goldwyn theater.
This year’s most nominated film, The Shape of Water, is the tenth film in Oscar history to earn thirteen nominations. The current record of fourteen nominations is held by three films, All about Eve (1950), Titanic (1997) and La La Land (2016). Dunkirk received eight nods, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri seven nominations, Darkest Hour and Phantom Thread saw 6 nominations each, with Lady Bird and Blade Runner 2049 each earning five nods.
Actress-comedian Tiffany Haddish and actor-director Andy Serkis, joined by
Academy President John Bailey, announced the 90th Academy Awards nominations today.
Haddish and Serkis announced the nominees in 11 categories at 5:22 a.m. Pt, with pre-taped category introductions by Academy members Priyanka Chopra, Rosario Dawson, Gal Gadot, Salma Hayek, Michelle Rodriguez,...
This year’s most nominated film, The Shape of Water, is the tenth film in Oscar history to earn thirteen nominations. The current record of fourteen nominations is held by three films, All about Eve (1950), Titanic (1997) and La La Land (2016). Dunkirk received eight nods, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri seven nominations, Darkest Hour and Phantom Thread saw 6 nominations each, with Lady Bird and Blade Runner 2049 each earning five nods.
Actress-comedian Tiffany Haddish and actor-director Andy Serkis, joined by
Academy President John Bailey, announced the 90th Academy Awards nominations today.
Haddish and Serkis announced the nominees in 11 categories at 5:22 a.m. Pt, with pre-taped category introductions by Academy members Priyanka Chopra, Rosario Dawson, Gal Gadot, Salma Hayek, Michelle Rodriguez,...
- 1/23/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are set to reveal the nominations for the 90th Academy Awards in all 24 categories this morning. Films such as “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” are expected to earn multiple nominations this year following big wins at the Golden Globes and Critic Choice Awards.
Click here to watch the nominations announcement live. Nominations will be updated live below as they are announced.
Best Picture
“Call Me by Your Name”
“Darkest Hour”
“Dunkirk”
“Get Out”
“Lady Bird”
“Phantom Thread”
“The Post”
“The Shape of Water”
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Best Director
Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water
Christopher Nolan, “Dunkirk”
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Phantom Thread”
Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird”
Jordan Peele, “Get Out”
Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet “Call Me by Your Name”
Daniel Day-Lewis “Phantom Thread”
Daniel Kaluuya “Get Out”
Gary Oldman “Darkest Hour”
Denzel Washington “Roman J.
Click here to watch the nominations announcement live. Nominations will be updated live below as they are announced.
Best Picture
“Call Me by Your Name”
“Darkest Hour”
“Dunkirk”
“Get Out”
“Lady Bird”
“Phantom Thread”
“The Post”
“The Shape of Water”
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Best Director
Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water
Christopher Nolan, “Dunkirk”
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Phantom Thread”
Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird”
Jordan Peele, “Get Out”
Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet “Call Me by Your Name”
Daniel Day-Lewis “Phantom Thread”
Daniel Kaluuya “Get Out”
Gary Oldman “Darkest Hour”
Denzel Washington “Roman J.
- 1/23/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The documentary film and television community came together to honor their own at the festive 33rd Annual Ida Documentary Awards celebration Saturday night at the Paramount Studio Theatre. The evening’s top prizes went to Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini’s Sundance-jury-winning love story “Dina” for Best Feature, and Laura Checkoway’s Oscar-shortlisted “Edith+Eddie” for Best Short.
Other winners included Dan Lindsay and Tj Martin’s Oscar-shortlisted “La 92” for the ABC News VideoSource Award, PBS’ Independent Lens for Best Curated Series, HBO’s “The Defiant Ones” for Best Limited Series, BBC’s “Planet Earth II” for Best Episodic Series, The New York Times Op-Docs for Best Short Form Series (which boasts three Oscar-shortlisted shorts), and Joel Fendelman’s “Man on Fire” for the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award.
Charles Burnett presented the Emerging Filmmaker Award to Yance Ford, winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award for Storytelling,...
Other winners included Dan Lindsay and Tj Martin’s Oscar-shortlisted “La 92” for the ABC News VideoSource Award, PBS’ Independent Lens for Best Curated Series, HBO’s “The Defiant Ones” for Best Limited Series, BBC’s “Planet Earth II” for Best Episodic Series, The New York Times Op-Docs for Best Short Form Series (which boasts three Oscar-shortlisted shorts), and Joel Fendelman’s “Man on Fire” for the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award.
Charles Burnett presented the Emerging Filmmaker Award to Yance Ford, winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award for Storytelling,...
- 12/10/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The documentary film and television community came together to honor their own at the festive 33rd Annual Ida Documentary Awards celebration Saturday night at the Paramount Studio Theatre. The evening’s top prizes went to Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini’s Sundance-jury-winning love story “Dina” for Best Feature, and Laura Checkoway’s Oscar-shortlisted “Edith+Eddie” for Best Short.
Other winners included Dan Lindsay and Tj Martin’s Oscar-shortlisted “La 92” for the ABC News VideoSource Award, PBS’ Independent Lens for Best Curated Series, HBO’s “The Defiant Ones” for Best Limited Series, BBC’s “Planet Earth II” for Best Episodic Series, The New York Times Op-Docs for Best Short Form Series (which boasts three Oscar-shortlisted shorts), and Joel Fendelman’s “Man on Fire” for the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award.
Charles Burnett presented the Emerging Filmmaker Award to Yance Ford, winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award for Storytelling,...
Other winners included Dan Lindsay and Tj Martin’s Oscar-shortlisted “La 92” for the ABC News VideoSource Award, PBS’ Independent Lens for Best Curated Series, HBO’s “The Defiant Ones” for Best Limited Series, BBC’s “Planet Earth II” for Best Episodic Series, The New York Times Op-Docs for Best Short Form Series (which boasts three Oscar-shortlisted shorts), and Joel Fendelman’s “Man on Fire” for the David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award.
Charles Burnett presented the Emerging Filmmaker Award to Yance Ford, winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award for Storytelling,...
- 12/10/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The 33rd annual Ida Documentary Awards named Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini's Dina Best Feature, with HBO's The Defiant Ones nabbing the honor forBest Limited Series. Laura Checkoway’s Edith+Eddie was named best short. The awards ceremony, hosted by actor/comedian Maz Jobrani, was held tonight at Los Angeles’ Paramount Theatre. Other winners included Dan Lindsay and Tj Martin's La 92, PBS' Independent Lens, BBC's Planet Earth II, The New York Times Op-Docs, and Joel…...
- 12/10/2017
- Deadline TV
The 33rd annual Ida Documentary Awards named Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini's Dina Best Feature, with HBO's The Defiant Ones nabbing the honor forBest Limited Series. Laura Checkoway’s Edith+Eddie was named best short. The awards ceremony, hosted by actor/comedian Maz Jobrani, was held tonight at Los Angeles’ Paramount Theatre. Other winners included Dan Lindsay and Tj Martin's La 92, PBS' Independent Lens, BBC's Planet Earth II, The New York Times Op-Docs, and Joel…...
- 12/10/2017
- Deadline
The International Documentary Association on Saturday night presented its 33rd annual awards at a ceremony at Los Angeles' Paramount Theatre hosted by Iranian-American actor and comedian Maz Jobrani. Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini's Dina and Laura Checkoway's Edith+Eddie won the top honors of best feature and best short, respectively.
"The best feature and best short award winners both represent unlikely love stories, each one tender, tragic and ultimately life-affirming,” Ida executive director Simon Kilmurry said in a statement. “Dina and Edith+Eddie are both distinguished by their unforgettable lead characters and their sensitive elicitation of universal truths."
Other...
"The best feature and best short award winners both represent unlikely love stories, each one tender, tragic and ultimately life-affirming,” Ida executive director Simon Kilmurry said in a statement. “Dina and Edith+Eddie are both distinguished by their unforgettable lead characters and their sensitive elicitation of universal truths."
Other...
- 12/10/2017
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The International Documentary Association has announced their Best Feature and Best Short nominees, as well as the recipients of Creative Recognition awards, for the 2017 Ida Documentary Awards. In the competition categories, the nominees for Best Feature include “City of Ghosts,” “Dina,” “Faces Places,””La 92,” and “Strong Island,” while the Best Short section includes nods for “Edith+Eddie,” “The Fight,” “Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405,” “Long Shot,” “Mr. Connolly Has Als,” and “The Rabbit Hunt.”
“The diverse array of films nominated this year underscore the vibrancy and elasticity of documentary form,” said Simon Kilmurry, Ida’s Executive Director in an official statement. “These films address the most urgent contemporary global matters — and the most intimate emotional territory. All of them demonstrate the courage and ingenuity of nonfiction media makers.”
Read More:2017 Ida Documentary Awards Nominees Announced, Including ‘Icarus,’ ‘The Keepers,’ and ‘The Vietnam War’
The winners for...
“The diverse array of films nominated this year underscore the vibrancy and elasticity of documentary form,” said Simon Kilmurry, Ida’s Executive Director in an official statement. “These films address the most urgent contemporary global matters — and the most intimate emotional territory. All of them demonstrate the courage and ingenuity of nonfiction media makers.”
Read More:2017 Ida Documentary Awards Nominees Announced, Including ‘Icarus,’ ‘The Keepers,’ and ‘The Vietnam War’
The winners for...
- 11/1/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Cher has not given up on Edith Hill and Eddie Harrison's love story.
Their union — and the tragic fallout from it — was the subject of the documentary short Edith+Eddie. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that the superstar performer and producer has boarded the project as an executive producer and will be involved in an awards campaign for the 29-minute film directed by Laura Checkoway.
Hill was 96 and Harrison 95 years old when they were married, and the film bills the two as "America's oldest interracial newlyweds" at the time of their union in 2014. What could've been...
Their union — and the tragic fallout from it — was the subject of the documentary short Edith+Eddie. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that the superstar performer and producer has boarded the project as an executive producer and will be involved in an awards campaign for the 29-minute film directed by Laura Checkoway.
Hill was 96 and Harrison 95 years old when they were married, and the film bills the two as "America's oldest interracial newlyweds" at the time of their union in 2014. What could've been...
- 9/21/2017
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This year, some 500 filmmakers from 60 countries braved record temperatures to attend the 23rd annual Palm Springs International ShortFest (June 20-26), the largest short film festival and only short film market in North America. Psisf hosted 338 fiction and documentary shorts, 46 World Premieres, 12 International Premieres, 42 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres.
And more than 4,200 of the festival submissions were available in the Film Market for industry attendees to view online. Check out the complete lineup here.
Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, and Bifa as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the festival gives its competition filmmakers a chance to secure $20,000 in cash prizes in 21 categories. The Panavision Best North American Short Award winner gets the use of a camera package valued at $60,000. Only the first-place winners in five categories are eligible to vie for an Academy Award nomination. Over 22 years, the Festival has presented 101 films that have...
And more than 4,200 of the festival submissions were available in the Film Market for industry attendees to view online. Check out the complete lineup here.
Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, and Bifa as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the festival gives its competition filmmakers a chance to secure $20,000 in cash prizes in 21 categories. The Panavision Best North American Short Award winner gets the use of a camera package valued at $60,000. Only the first-place winners in five categories are eligible to vie for an Academy Award nomination. Over 22 years, the Festival has presented 101 films that have...
- 6/26/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
This year, some 500 filmmakers from 60 countries braved record temperatures to attend the 23rd annual Palm Springs International ShortFest (June 20-26), the largest short film festival and only short film market in North America. Psisf hosted 338 fiction and documentary shorts, 46 World Premieres, 12 International Premieres, 42 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres.
And more than 4,200 of the festival submissions were available in the Film Market for industry attendees to view online. Check out the complete lineup here.
Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, and Bifa as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the festival gives its competition filmmakers a chance to secure $20,000 in cash prizes in 21 categories. The Panavision Best North American Short Award winner gets the use of a camera package valued at $60,000. Only the first-place winners in five categories are eligible to vie for an Academy Award nomination. Over 22 years, the Festival has presented 101 films that have...
And more than 4,200 of the festival submissions were available in the Film Market for industry attendees to view online. Check out the complete lineup here.
Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, and Bifa as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the festival gives its competition filmmakers a chance to secure $20,000 in cash prizes in 21 categories. The Panavision Best North American Short Award winner gets the use of a camera package valued at $60,000. Only the first-place winners in five categories are eligible to vie for an Academy Award nomination. Over 22 years, the Festival has presented 101 films that have...
- 6/26/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
California festival runs through June 26.
Jan-Eric Mack’s Facing Mecca from Switzerland was named best of fest as the Palm Springs International Shortfest awards were handed out on Sunday (25).
The film (pictured) received a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau and may be eligible for Oscar consideration.
The grand jury award went to The Head Vanishes (France-Canada) by Franck Dion Jacqueline, and the Panavision Best North American Short award and the use of a camera package valued at $60,000 courtesy of Panavision was presented to Reed Van Dyk’s Dekalb Elementary (USA).
In the non-student awards, whose winners may be eligible for Oscar consideration, The Head Vanishes took the animated award, while best documentary short was presented to Edith + Eddie (USA) by Laura Checkoway.
Retouch (Iran) by Kaveh Mazaheri prevailed in the best live action short over 15 minutes category, and the best live action short of 15 minutes and under award went to [link...
Jan-Eric Mack’s Facing Mecca from Switzerland was named best of fest as the Palm Springs International Shortfest awards were handed out on Sunday (25).
The film (pictured) received a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau and may be eligible for Oscar consideration.
The grand jury award went to The Head Vanishes (France-Canada) by Franck Dion Jacqueline, and the Panavision Best North American Short award and the use of a camera package valued at $60,000 courtesy of Panavision was presented to Reed Van Dyk’s Dekalb Elementary (USA).
In the non-student awards, whose winners may be eligible for Oscar consideration, The Head Vanishes took the animated award, while best documentary short was presented to Edith + Eddie (USA) by Laura Checkoway.
Retouch (Iran) by Kaveh Mazaheri prevailed in the best live action short over 15 minutes category, and the best live action short of 15 minutes and under award went to [link...
- 6/25/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
If you like your love stories with a side of social justice (who doesn’t?), Laura Checkoway’s “Edith + Eddie” is probably the documentary for you.
The film follows the titular Edith and Eddie, ages 96 and 95, who are America’s oldest interracial newlyweds. The two are committed to being with each other despite the odds against them, even as a family feud threatens to keep them apart.
Read More: ‘Shiners’ Trailer: Hot Docs Selection Explores the Incredible Lives of Shoe Shiners Around the World — Watch
That heart of the film is never clearer than it is in our clip, where Eddie talks about the difficulties they have faced as a couple. “They think they’re gonna wear us down,” he says with a smile. “But they’re not gonna wear us down. We married for life.”
“Edith + Eddie” makes its international premiere at Hot Docs. Check out our exclusive clip below.
The film follows the titular Edith and Eddie, ages 96 and 95, who are America’s oldest interracial newlyweds. The two are committed to being with each other despite the odds against them, even as a family feud threatens to keep them apart.
Read More: ‘Shiners’ Trailer: Hot Docs Selection Explores the Incredible Lives of Shoe Shiners Around the World — Watch
That heart of the film is never clearer than it is in our clip, where Eddie talks about the difficulties they have faced as a couple. “They think they’re gonna wear us down,” he says with a smile. “But they’re not gonna wear us down. We married for life.”
“Edith + Eddie” makes its international premiere at Hot Docs. Check out our exclusive clip below.
- 5/2/2017
- by Allison Picurro
- Indiewire
Laura Checkoway had an idea for an article she wanted to write which took a new direction when she met Lucky Torres ( née Waleska Torres Ruiz) , a headstrong defiant girl from the Bronx who had a story to tell her. This article would set the documentary Lucky into motion. As a child, Lucky suffered years of abuse and spent her childhood in foster care before running from girlfriend to girlfriend. Laura became invested in Lucky‘s life as her world evolved like a roller coaster. Lucky is a compelling film about a powerful young woman who kept her son and sister from drowning in a sea of uncertainty despite being homeless and unemployed and with all the proud scars to show for it. Btw Checkoway also collaborated on ‘ My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy’ which automatically makes her a goddess.
LatinoBuzz: Your intent was never to make a documentary but to write an article. After having met Lucky and realizing the process, were you ever concerned you would not finish the film or get the full story from her?
Laura: I often wondered if we’d come out of this process with a full film. But I guess that I would’ve kept going no matter how Lucky’s life unfolded until we did her story justice.
LatinoBuzz: The film doesn't have a happy ending per se, but definitely of some hope for her as a mother and person, what were your personal hopes for Lucky?
Laura: While making the film, I hoped a lot for Lucky—most generally that she would find her way, get out of her own way, and grow. I still have high hopes for her—that she learns to love herself more and more; that she finds some sense of healing and creates the home, family, and career that she longs for.
LatinoBuzz: How did Steve James (Hoop Dreams) come on board? What kind of advice did he offer for the film and to best handle the subject matter given how delicate it was/is?
Laura: Steve and I met at a Cinema Eye documentary filmmaker event and got into a conversation about making films about difficult people that aren’t the typically heroic protagonists we see in so many documentaries. After watching a rough cut of the film, he became an editorial advisor and mentor; then he came on as executive producer. He’s a master and gave insightful editorial advice at a time when the story needed fine-tuning.
LatinoBuzz: Do you want to ever move to narrative filmmaking?
Laura: I think I’ll stick with documentary but you never know…
LatinoBuzz: Do you think Lucky would have opened up as much had you been a male director?
Laura: Being a woman, I think Lucky felt like we were able to see eye to eye and she sensed that she could trust me. But more than gender, from what I’ve gathered at recent Q & A’s and press when Lucky has been asked about this, it’s my loyalty and open heart that helped her open up too.
LatinoBuzz: Is there anything you would've done differently as a filmmaker?
Laura: Wow, these questions are making me think. This was my first film so I was literally learning as I went. Looking at the footage and process now, there’s so much I could have done differently, but this was a very organic experience so it wouldn’t have happened any other way.
LatinoBuzz: You have some wonderful tender close up shots on Lucky where you get a sense of a person who is bursting with love inside for the people around her – do you think that the hair, tattoos, piercings are more 'armor' that she puts on everyday and not so much her “art”?
Laura: Yes, I see her tattoos as both armor and art.
LatinoBuzz: How did you go about the fundraising for the film?
Laura I self-financed the film with help from producer Neyda Martinez.
LatinoBuzz: How was Lucky received at screenings etc and how did she handle it?
Laura: The audience has a really powerful response to the film and it sparks a lot of conversation. At screenings, Lucky is applauded and admired for her strength and audiences have expressed a lot of gratitude to her for sharing her story and her pain. It’s a lot for Lucky to take in and there have been ups and downs but for the most part she’s handled it like the leader and eloquent speaker that she is… she’s so authentically herself.
LatinoBuzz: I loved the story between the two sisters (Lucky and Fantasy).
Laura: I love the bond between Lucky and Fantasy too.
LatinoBuzz: Would you ever re-visit this story in 5 years?
Laura: Yes.
Follow all the news on ‘Lucky’ at luckythedocumentary.com
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
LatinoBuzz: Your intent was never to make a documentary but to write an article. After having met Lucky and realizing the process, were you ever concerned you would not finish the film or get the full story from her?
Laura: I often wondered if we’d come out of this process with a full film. But I guess that I would’ve kept going no matter how Lucky’s life unfolded until we did her story justice.
LatinoBuzz: The film doesn't have a happy ending per se, but definitely of some hope for her as a mother and person, what were your personal hopes for Lucky?
Laura: While making the film, I hoped a lot for Lucky—most generally that she would find her way, get out of her own way, and grow. I still have high hopes for her—that she learns to love herself more and more; that she finds some sense of healing and creates the home, family, and career that she longs for.
LatinoBuzz: How did Steve James (Hoop Dreams) come on board? What kind of advice did he offer for the film and to best handle the subject matter given how delicate it was/is?
Laura: Steve and I met at a Cinema Eye documentary filmmaker event and got into a conversation about making films about difficult people that aren’t the typically heroic protagonists we see in so many documentaries. After watching a rough cut of the film, he became an editorial advisor and mentor; then he came on as executive producer. He’s a master and gave insightful editorial advice at a time when the story needed fine-tuning.
LatinoBuzz: Do you want to ever move to narrative filmmaking?
Laura: I think I’ll stick with documentary but you never know…
LatinoBuzz: Do you think Lucky would have opened up as much had you been a male director?
Laura: Being a woman, I think Lucky felt like we were able to see eye to eye and she sensed that she could trust me. But more than gender, from what I’ve gathered at recent Q & A’s and press when Lucky has been asked about this, it’s my loyalty and open heart that helped her open up too.
LatinoBuzz: Is there anything you would've done differently as a filmmaker?
Laura: Wow, these questions are making me think. This was my first film so I was literally learning as I went. Looking at the footage and process now, there’s so much I could have done differently, but this was a very organic experience so it wouldn’t have happened any other way.
LatinoBuzz: You have some wonderful tender close up shots on Lucky where you get a sense of a person who is bursting with love inside for the people around her – do you think that the hair, tattoos, piercings are more 'armor' that she puts on everyday and not so much her “art”?
Laura: Yes, I see her tattoos as both armor and art.
LatinoBuzz: How did you go about the fundraising for the film?
Laura I self-financed the film with help from producer Neyda Martinez.
LatinoBuzz: How was Lucky received at screenings etc and how did she handle it?
Laura: The audience has a really powerful response to the film and it sparks a lot of conversation. At screenings, Lucky is applauded and admired for her strength and audiences have expressed a lot of gratitude to her for sharing her story and her pain. It’s a lot for Lucky to take in and there have been ups and downs but for the most part she’s handled it like the leader and eloquent speaker that she is… she’s so authentically herself.
LatinoBuzz: I loved the story between the two sisters (Lucky and Fantasy).
Laura: I love the bond between Lucky and Fantasy too.
LatinoBuzz: Would you ever re-visit this story in 5 years?
Laura: Yes.
Follow all the news on ‘Lucky’ at luckythedocumentary.com
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
- 4/16/2014
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
London’s Birds Eye View Film Festival will include 10 UK premieres and titles from Girls star Lena Dunham and Kelly Reichardt.
The Birds Eye View Film Festival (April 8-13), celebrating women’s work in film, has revealed details of its 2014 programme including works by British director Destiny Ekaragha and Laura Checkoway to films by Lena Dunham and Kelly Reichardt.
The festival will also celebrate inspiring female filmmakers and actors of recent times including the late pioneering animator Joy Batchelor, Broadway legend Elaine Stritch and award-winning British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha.
The festival will comprise 19 features including 10 UK premieres such as German director Katrin Gebbe’s debut Nothing Bad Can Happen and the London premiere of Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky’s Watermark, the follow-up to their 2006 documentary hit Manufactured Landscapes.
The programme also includes an American Indie strand featuring Kelly Reichardt’s thriller Night Moves starring Jesse Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning; Chiemi Karasawa’s documentary Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me; and the...
The Birds Eye View Film Festival (April 8-13), celebrating women’s work in film, has revealed details of its 2014 programme including works by British director Destiny Ekaragha and Laura Checkoway to films by Lena Dunham and Kelly Reichardt.
The festival will also celebrate inspiring female filmmakers and actors of recent times including the late pioneering animator Joy Batchelor, Broadway legend Elaine Stritch and award-winning British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha.
The festival will comprise 19 features including 10 UK premieres such as German director Katrin Gebbe’s debut Nothing Bad Can Happen and the London premiere of Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky’s Watermark, the follow-up to their 2006 documentary hit Manufactured Landscapes.
The programme also includes an American Indie strand featuring Kelly Reichardt’s thriller Night Moves starring Jesse Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning; Chiemi Karasawa’s documentary Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me; and the...
- 3/10/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
"I felt like I had to trust somebody in order to be heard," Lucky Torres said after the world premiere of "Lucky," a documentary by Laura Checkoway that chronicles Torres' life. "That was the only way for others to know why I am who I am and what's happened to me in my lifetime. And it's going on out there everyday. You just don't hear about it and you just don't see it." What you don't hear about and don't see -- at least from their perspectives -- are the lives of Lucky and the people she represents. She's a impoverished young gay woman abandoned by her parents who moves from shelter to shelter in inner city New York. She dabbles in prostitution with men because she has to survive and provide for her children. Her life has been far from what her name suggests, but she continues to dream...
- 4/30/2013
- by Peter Knegt
- Indiewire
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