Kino Lorber will release the documentary feature "In Case of Emergency" by award-winning director and photographer Carolyn Jones ("The American Nurse," "Defining Hope") with a live virtual premiere on Eventive on Wednesday, October 14th followed by a week of free streaming on its Kino Now service ahead of a wider on-demand roll-out. This is a documentary that paints a troubling portrait of our ... more >
NEWS
“Even in this terrible time of pandemic, there’s something about art and music and beauty that we can all aspire to” (Lynn Montgomery)
Our interview with the director of "Amazing Grace"
Grace Fisher’s positivity has served the young lady well over her two decades of life, as she honed her musical abilities on guitar and piano, while dreaming of becoming a composer. “My mom always said that [even] as a young girl, I’ve been blessed with a happy outlook on anything,” Fisher told me recently of her optimistic attitude. Incredibly, Fisher has maintained that same poise and ... more >
Bentonville Film Festival closes strong with an offering that combined virtual and drive-in screenings
America's in a constant state of flux, boundaries are being enlarged and society is evolving and these filmmakers, and the films they have made, reflect this
The hybrid in-person and online version of the Bentonville Film Festival wrapped up this weekend, with drive-in films, virtual panel discussions and a host of films to choose from. Here are a few from the many offerings to keep in your sights. “Amazing Grace” Directed by Lynn Montgomery Grace Fisher was a happy-go-lucky, musically-gifted teen who dreamt of being a professional musician. But ... more >
In the Philippines where a pandemic gave Duterte absolute power it’s open season for the intimidation of journalists
Our interview with Ramona Diaz, director of "A Thousand Cuts"
Journalist Maria Ressa was convicted of “cyber libel” just as Ramona S. Diaz’s documentary about her, called “A Thousand Cuts,” was due to premiere at AFI Docs in June. Ressa had for years worked for a press outlet called the Rappler, which was severely critical of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s regime and stifling of the free press. “We anticipated it,” said Diaz, whose “A Thousand ... more >
Alan Parker left an indelible mark on me
"So say it once, say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud" ("The Commitments")
British filmmaker Alan Parker, who left us on July 31st, 2020, was not a prolific filmmaker. He made just shy of twenty movies but what a heavy footprint these movies left on me. Films like "Angel Heart," starring Mickey Rourke, and Robert De Niro as the devil, "Mississippi Burning" or that terrific film "The Commitments," which came out in 1991, they all made their mark on me, each one for a ... more >
ON A CONFERENCE CALL with the filmmakers of “The Fight,” a new documentary about the many battles and the many lives of the ACLU
Film will be available Friday for streaming
The documentary is called “The Fight,” which could not be a more à propos title for a film about the ACLU’s ongoing quest to defend not only civil rights, but also the necessity for everyone to enjoy free speech, no matter how odious their views might be. But the civil rights organization’s mandate became even more demanding during the Trump administration, as the president and his cabinet have ... more >
BRIEFLY – RZA-directed “Cut throat city” comes out July 31st
132 minutes | USA | English
"The ninth ward isn't covered," or so goes the voiceover in RZA's new film "Cut throat city," which comes out at the end of the month. It's the story of four boyhood friends in New Orleans's Lower Ninth ward who return after Hurricane Katrina to find their homes destroyed, no employment, and no assistance available from Uncle Sam. Out of options, they turn to a local hood who offers them a shot at ... more >
