Today, TIFF announced three new documentaries in Real to Reel ?
The Heart of Jenin;
Paris, Not France; and
Sounds Like Teen Spirit: A Popumentary; along with two new Mavericks conversation events related to non-fiction films ?
The People Speak and
Picasso and Braque Go To the Movies. These are the final documentary additions to the festival, making for a whopping total of 41 titles, one of the largest non-fiction line-ups of any major international festival. On August 26, you can check back to tiff08.ca to see detailed descriptions of each film. For now, you can make due with these short synopses:
James Stern, Adam Del Deo, USA
World PremiereEvery Little Step is a theatrical documentary on the making of Broadway?s greatest hit and current revival of ?A Chorus Line.? The film culls behind-the-scenes footage of the auditions, rehearsals and performances of the 1975 original and the 2006 Broadway revival ? revealing how life imitates art as performers from both productions undergo intense experiences similar to the roles in the show itself. Every Little Step, directed by James Stern and Adam Del Deo (?So Goes the Nation, TIFF 2006 and The Year of the Yao, TIFF 2004) spotlights the similarities and the differences between the two shows separated by a generation, the enduring popularity of ?A Chorus Line,? and the creative minds behind one of the longest running musicals in Broadway history.
Religulous Larry Charles, USA
World PremiereReligulous follows political humorist and author Bill Maher (Real Time with Bill Maher, Politically Incorrect) as he travels around the globe interviewing people about God and religion. Known for his astute analytical skills, irreverent wit and commitment to never pulling a punch, Maher brings his characteristic honesty to an unusual spiritual journey. Directed by Larry Charles, Religulous will mark Charles?s first feature project since the critically acclaimed, wildly successful Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (TIFF 2006). Teaser clips of Religulous were presented as a special Mavericks presentation at TIFF 2007 with Maher and Charles in attendance.
Valentino: The Last Emperor Matt Tyrnauer, USA
North American PremiereFilmmaker Matt Tyrnauer (Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine) gains unprecedented access to the renowned fashion designer and his entourage, offering an intimate, engaging, and very funny fly-on-the-wall exploration of the singular world of one of Italy's richest and most famous men. Telling the story of the famous designer's extraordinary life, remarkable artistry and unique relationship with his business partner and companion of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino: The Last Emperor documents the colourful and dramatic closing act of Valentino's celebrated career while exploring the larger themes affecting the fashion business today.
Waltz with Bashir Ari Folman, Israel/France/Germany
North American PremiereOne night in a bar, an old friend tells director Ari Folman about a recurring nightmare. The two men conclude that there is a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the Lebanon War in the early 1980s. An astonishing and powerful animated feature that journeys into the director's memory in search of some missing pieces.
Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Chai Vasarhelyi, USA
World Premiere One of Africa?s most prominent musical exports, Youssou Ndour?s distinctive tenor voice became internationally known through a string of popular tracks, including collaborations with Peter Gabriel and the hit ?7 Seconds? with Neneh Cherry. Having used his fame to draw attention to a range of political issues, Ndour was named one of Time Magazine?s 100 most influential people in the world in 2007. Several years in the making, Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love follows Ndour as he releases the deeply personal album Egypt as an expression of his Islamic faith, challenging Western stereotypes of the religion while stirring controversy in his home country of Senegal.
MASTERS
Les Plages d?Agnès Agnès Varda, France
North American Premiere Legendary filmmaker Agnès Varda looks back on her life and work, using beaches as a window to memory. In Belgium, California, the South of France and in Paris, Varda composed her own self-portrait via photographs, film clips and some surprising encounters.
Of Time and the City Terence Davies, United Kingdom
North American PremiereAcclaimed British director Terence Davies (Distant Voices, Still Lives; TIFF 1988) returns to his native Liverpool and to his filmmaking roots to capture a sense of the city today and its influences on him growing up in the late 40s and early 50s.
MAVERICKS CONVERSATION SERIESThe People Speak (pictured above right)
Historian, playwright and social activist Howard Zinn first published his landmark book, A People?s History of the United States, in 1980. Since then, it has gone on to sell one and a half million copies around the world and inspire innumerable fresh approaches to reflecting on the past. Now comes a unique documentary collaboration between Zinn and others, enlisting an extraordinary lineup of actors, including Viggo Mortensen, Danny Glover, Marisa Tomei and Kerry Washington, who have contributed live stage performances of historical testimonies. The actors portray labour leaders, civil rights demonstrators and other activists, drawn from Voices of a People?s History of the United States, an anthology edited by Zinn and author Anthony Arnove. Zinn and Arnove are bringing this work to film with the support of Matt Damon and Chris Moore, who previously collaborated as producers on the television series ?Project Greenlight.? In this special Mavericks presentation, the audiences will be treated to a sneak preview of clips from the documentary The People Speak, along with a discussion on stage between Zinn, Damon, Moore and actor Josh Brolin about the filmmaking process and their motivations.
Picasso & Braque Go to the MoviesSome of the biggest names in the visual arts world gather to discuss the amazing impact of early cinema on Cubism. Influential filmmaker/gallerist Arne Glimcher, painter Chuck Close, and artist and Academy Award?-nominated filmmaker Julian Schnabel will take part in this special Mavericks presentation. The artists championed by Glimcher, through his PaceWildenstein Gallery in New York City, represent a rich and coherent history of 20th century art. In asking himself what impact cinema has had on various generations of artists, Glimcher turned to the advent of cubism and the groundbreaking paintings of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Picasso, Braque and Early Film in Cubism, a major gallery show and book, soon emerged, contrasting film clips from early cinema with cubist paintings. Glimcher has now turned that show into an hour-long documentary, featuring some of today?s leading artists, intellectuals and curators, including Close and Schnabel, as well as Martin Scorsese, who signed on as a producer and contributed to the film?s narration. This Mavericks event will include a screening of Picasso & Braque Go to the Movies, followed by a discussion with Glimcher, Schnabel and Close reflecting on the film?s themes about the relationship between art and film.
A Time to Stir This epic four-hour work, directed by Paul Cronin, looks at the tumultuous events of the Columbia University student strike in 1968 that ended in police violence and signaled a dramatic political shift between old left and new left. The film captures the intoxicating uprising and sobering aftermath, interviewing students, professors and police. Screening as a work-in-progress on the last day of the Festival, this special Mavericks presentation will include a discussion with three active participants of the strike: Mark Rudd of Students for a Democratic Society (who later was a member of the Weather Underground), Bill Sales of the Student Afro-American Society and Carolyn Eisenberg, who served on the strike committee.
MIDNIGHT MADNESS
Not Quite Hollywood Mark Hartley, Australia
International PremiereFree-wheelin' sex romps! Blood-soaked terror tales! Blazing action extravaganzas! The same cultural explosion that gave birth to Australian art classics also spawned a group of demon-children - maverick filmmakers who thumbed their noses at authority, made their own rules and, in the process, unleashed films such as Razorback, The Man from Hong Kong, Patrick and Mad Max. A rip-roaring documentary on Australian genre cinema of the 70s and 80s, Not Quite Hollywood features Jamie Lee Curtis, Dennis Hopper, Stacy Keach, Quentin Tarantino and other celebrities sharing their love and memories of an unjustly forgotten cinematic era.
REAL TO REEL After the Race Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Austria
World PremiereFollowing the tracks of the famous Dakar rally, filmmaker Nikolaus Geyrhalter (Our Daily Bread) sets off on a journey from Europe to Africa, documenting European ideas of and prejudices toward Africans, and vice versa.
American Swing Matthew Kaufman, USA
World PremiereChronicling the rise and fall of the notorious public sex club Plato?s Retreat and its quixotic owner, American Swing captures the hedonistic heyday of New York nightlife in the 1970s. As the city hurtled toward bankruptcy and social unrest, its citizens partied on.
At the Edge of the World Dan Stone, USA
World PremiereControversial Canadian eco-warrior Paul Watson leads two ships of his Sea Shepherd volunteers on a pirate-like voyage, full of breathless suspense, to stop Japanese whaling vessels in the Antarctica Sea.
The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World Weijun Chen, China
World PremiereThe director of last year's crowd-pleaser Please Vote For Me returns with a look at the West Lake Restaurant in Changsha, China ? the world?s largest restaurant. With a staff of nearly 1000 (including 300 chefs) and 5000 seats, West Lake is a combination theme park and eatery, offering a cross section of the country's changing society.
Blind Loves Juraj Lehotský, Slovakia
North American PremiereFinding one?s place in this world is not an easy thing for any person, but how much more difficult can it be for someone who is blind?
Blood Trail Richard Parry, UK
World PremiereWar photographer Robert King let a camera crew follow him for over 15 years. From his first assignment in Bosnia to his breakthrough work in Chechnya, and on to his recent coverage in Iraq, Blood Trail is an extraordinary look at this difficult and dangerous profession.
Citizen Juling Ing K, Kraisak Choonhavan and Manit Sriwanichpoom, Thailand
World PremiereA powerfully humanistic documentary that examines the issue of Islamic insurgency in Southern Thailand within the context of the country?s unstable democracy, triggered after a Buddhist teacher, Juling, was kidnapped and found lying in a pool of blood.
The Dungeon Master Keven McAlester, USA
World PremiereThis whimsical look at three adults deeply involved with Dungeons & Dragons explores how the game affects their lives and relationships, with finely crafted cinematography by Lee Daniel (known for his work with Richard Linklater) and a music score by Blonde Redhead.
Examined Life Astra Taylor, Canada
World PremiereAn intimate and engaging conversation with some of the greatest minds of our era ? including Cornel West, Martha Nussbaum, Kwame Anthony Appiah and more - Examined Life conveys the wonderment and curiosity that drives philosophical thought, taking it out of the ivory towers of academia and into the hustle and bustle of the everyday.
Food, Inc. Robert Kenner, USA
World PremiereDrawing upon the reportage of Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Michael Pollan (The Omnivore?s Dilemma), this searing investigation explores the dramatic changes that big business has imposed on how and what we eat.
From Mother to Daughter Andrea Zambelli, Italy
World PremiereAfter the Second World War, many young Italian women earned their living in the rice fields, spending hours every day working under the hot sun. Over 50 years later, having lost none of their spirit, they rekindle their friendships by forming a singing group.
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29Kevin Rafferty, USA
World PremiereKevin Rafferty, co-director of
Atomic Café, examines the tumult of 1968 through the memories of football players (including Tommy Lee Jones) who took part in a legendary game that year between rival Ivy League schools whose student bodies included Al Gore (Harvard) and George Bush (Yale).
The Heart of Jenin Leon Geller and Marcus Vette, Germany
North American PremiereIn late 2005, 12-year-old Ahmed Khatib was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers inside the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. Ahmed's father Ismael made an extraordinary decision, despite his grief, to donate his son's organs to several Israeli children who come from diverse family backgrounds of Orthodox Jewish, Druze and Bedouin. A collaboration between directors from Israel and Germany, The Heart of Jenin follows Ismael from the time of this son?s death through to his journey into Israel, over a year later, to meet the children whose lives he helped save.
It Might Get Loud Davis Guggenheim, USA
World PremiereThe Academy Award?-winning director of An Inconvenient Truth celebrates the electric guitar by examining the creative process of three virtuosos ? Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, The Edge of U2 and Jack White of The White Stripes ? including their individual development of songs not yet released.
Killing Kasztner Gaylen Ross, USA
World PremiereDr. Israel Kasztner helped rescue over 1,600 Hungarian Jews during the Second World War, yet he was later branded a traitor by right-wing extremists in Israel and assassinated. Uncovering new revelations about the case, this film explores Kasztner's legacy.
La Mémoire des anges Luc Bourdon, Canada
World PremiereA glorious reminder of Quebec and Canada?s rich motion picture history, La Mémoire des anges reveals the vital role the National Film Board of Canada has played in the development of a national cinematic language. Consisting of more than two hundred excerpts from NFB films, the film knits its visual landscape from some of the greatest films ever made in Canada.
More Than a Game Kristopher Belman, USA
World PremiereFirst-time filmmaker Kristopher Belman had the foresight to follow the journey of a remarkable high school basketball team in Akron, Ohio, that happened to include future NBA superstar LeBron James.
Paris, Not France
Adria Petty,USA
World Premiere
Polls show that in certain demographics, more people identify the name Paris with ?Hilton? than with ?France.? Gaining intimate access to the glamorous and chaotic day-to-day life of one of the world?s biggest icons, director Adria Petty explores the businesswoman and the human being behind the public persona that is Paris Hilton. Modelled after the 1960s ?it?-girl film Darling, and featuring additional interviews with Hilton?s family and friends, as well as media experts ranging from Donald Trump to tabloid columnist Richard Johnson,
Paris, Not France attempts to explore the Paris phenomenon and how it defines this moment in culture.
Dorothee Wenner, Germany
International PremiereThe Nigerian home-movie industry has risen to immense popularity throughout Africa. Founder of the African Academy, Peace Anyiam-Fiberesima presents a guided tour through ?Nollywood,? taking the audience to film locations, markets and celebrity hangouts in Lagos to meet key personalities from the Nigerian film industry.
The Real Shaolin Alexander Sebastien Lee, China/USA
World PremiereRich with dazzling displays of Kung Fu, this film follows two Chinese and two western students as they undergo a year of rigorous training in martial arts at the Shaolin temple in Central China.
Sea Point Days François Verster, South Africa
World Premiere Lying on the coast of Cape Town, there is one public space where everyone seems to come together: the Sea Point Promenade and Municipal Pools. Set between city and ocean, this beautiful strip of ?everyman?s land? offers a quirky mix of class, race, gender and religion ? a place where South Africans of all backgrounds can experience happiness together. But is all as it appears?
Shakespeare and Victor Hugo?s Intimacies Yulene Olaizola, Mexico
North American PremiereTwenty years ago, Rosa met Jorge, a young tenant in her lodging house at the corner of Shakespeare and Victor Hugo streets in Mexico City. But after Jorge?s sudden death, Rosa began to discover a darker side of the man who had become her closest friend.
Soul PowerJeffrey Levy-Hinte, USA
World PremiereWith performances by James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, The Spinners and more, Soul Power documents the vibrant and powerful concert that accompanied George Foreman and Muhammad Ali?s ?Rumble in the Jungle? in Zaire in 1974.
Sounds Like Teen Spirit: A Popumentary Jamie Jay Johnson, United Kingdom
World PremiereDelving behind the scenes of the world?s premiere youth music spectacle, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Sounds Like Teen Spirit: A Popumentary follows contestants from four very different parts of the continent, celebrating this next generation of Europeans, and the quirks, aspirations and foibles that make each child and each country different from its neighbour. A comic and moving celebration of the spirit of Eurovision and the power of music to unite people, even in the face of historical and political acrimony, competition and personal heartache.
Under Rich Earth Malcolm Rogge, Canada
World PremiereIn a remote mountain valley in Ecuador, coffee and sugarcane farmers are faced with the dismal prospect of being forced off their fertile land to make way for a mining project. Passionate and provocative, Under Rich Earth offers critical insights from struggling farmers whose communities are torn apart by global forces.
Unmistaken ChildNati Baratz, Israel
World PremiereDeclared the greatest Tibetan master of our time, Lama Konchog passed away in 2001, at the age of 84. In this visually stunning, emotionally gripping documentary, shot over the course of four years, Lama Konchog?s shy and devoted disciple, Tenzin Zopa, must search for his master?s reincarnation ? an ?unmistakable child? ? and successfully remove him from his parents? care.
Unwanted Witness (aka Témoin indésirable; aka Sin tregua) Juan Jose Lozano, Switzerland/France
North American PremiereUnwanted Witness depicts Colombia's social and political situation through the work and life of investigative journalist Hollman Morris. Morris's commitment to bring to light many of the untold stories of Colombia's internal armed conflict has made him and his family the target of multiple death threats and intimidation.
Upstream Battle Ben Kempas, Germany
North American Premiere An intricate political battle plays out over water in Northern California, pitting Native American activist Merv George of the Hoopa tribe against an international power company that has Warren Buffett as a major shareholder.
Witch HuntDana Nachman and Don Hardy, USA
World Premiere
Voters in Bakersfield, California, elected a tough-on-crime District Attorney into office for more than 25 years. During his tenure, dozens of innocent working class moms and dads were sent to prison on charges of sexual abuse. Executive producer Sean Penn presents and narrates this gripping indictment of the American justice system told through the lens of one small town.
Yes Madam, Sir Megan Doneman, Australia/India
World Premiere Narrated by Helen Mirren, Yes Madam, Sir portrays the life story of India?s first woman police officer. Adored by the masses and vilified by her critics, Kiran Bedi has publicly fought high-level corruption and brutal opposition, at great personal and professional cost.
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