New Slate Ventures has come on board as a production partner for Insignia Films’ “Free Money.” The announcement was made just ahead of the documentary feature’s world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
Jordan Fudge, Jeremy Allen and Tess Cohen will join producer Amanda Pollak, and executive producers Stephen Ives, Bradwel Iro (Lbx Africa), Chris Buck (Retro Report) to back the film.
The film explores what happens when universal basic income (Ubi) comes to the Kenyan village of Kogutu. GiveDirectly, a non-profit organization, is sending free money for 12 years as part of an experiment. Filmmakers Lauren DeFilippo and Sam Soko juxtapose the story of these young economists, bankrolled by Silicon Valley and convinced that they have found an infallible algorithm to improve lives, with those of the villagers.
“’Free Money’ has been a labor of love five years in the making,” said Amanda Pollak, senior partner at Insignia Films.
Jordan Fudge, Jeremy Allen and Tess Cohen will join producer Amanda Pollak, and executive producers Stephen Ives, Bradwel Iro (Lbx Africa), Chris Buck (Retro Report) to back the film.
The film explores what happens when universal basic income (Ubi) comes to the Kenyan village of Kogutu. GiveDirectly, a non-profit organization, is sending free money for 12 years as part of an experiment. Filmmakers Lauren DeFilippo and Sam Soko juxtapose the story of these young economists, bankrolled by Silicon Valley and convinced that they have found an infallible algorithm to improve lives, with those of the villagers.
“’Free Money’ has been a labor of love five years in the making,” said Amanda Pollak, senior partner at Insignia Films.
- 9/8/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Neon has made its second acquisition of the Sundance Film Festival with Jamila Wignot’s Ailey, about dance legend Alvin Ailey.
The film debuted at the festival yesterday in the U.S. Documentary Competition section. The documentary explores Ailey’s life and his connection to the present dance company that bears his name with never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life and rare dance performances by the Ailey Company. Ailey found salvation through dance and he pioneered choreography centering on African American experiences. He endured racism and homophobia; addiction and mental illness.
Darcy Heusel, Neon’s Head of Impact and Audience Engagement, remarked “Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is...
The film debuted at the festival yesterday in the U.S. Documentary Competition section. The documentary explores Ailey’s life and his connection to the present dance company that bears his name with never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life and rare dance performances by the Ailey Company. Ailey found salvation through dance and he pioneered choreography centering on African American experiences. He endured racism and homophobia; addiction and mental illness.
Darcy Heusel, Neon’s Head of Impact and Audience Engagement, remarked “Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is...
- 2/1/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Neon has acquired its second film out of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival: Jamila Wignot’s “Ailey,” about dance legend Alvin Ailey.
The film, which debuted at the festival on Saturday to critical acclaim, includes never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life, with rare dance performances by the Ailey Company.
Ailey was a visionary artist who founded one of the world’s most renowned dance companies — the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — at age 27.
“Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience,” Darcy Heusel, Neon’s head of impact and audience engagement, said in a statement. “Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is thrilled to be part of continuing his legacy by bringing this remarkable film to theaters across the country.
The film, which debuted at the festival on Saturday to critical acclaim, includes never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life, with rare dance performances by the Ailey Company.
Ailey was a visionary artist who founded one of the world’s most renowned dance companies — the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — at age 27.
“Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience,” Darcy Heusel, Neon’s head of impact and audience engagement, said in a statement. “Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is thrilled to be part of continuing his legacy by bringing this remarkable film to theaters across the country.
- 2/1/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) have announced nominations for this year’s television categories, including Drama Series, Comedy Series, and Long Form Original. Reigning Emmy winners “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Veep” are nominated in their respective categories, as is HBO’s acclaimed “Big Little Lies” limited series.
Winners will be honored at the 2018 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday, February 11, 2018. Ceremonies will take place in New York City and Los Angeles. The full list of 2018 nominations are below.
Drama Series
“The Americans”
“Better Call Saul”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Stranger Things”
Comedy Series
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Glow”
“Master of None
Silicon Valley”
“Veep”
Long Form Original
“American Horror Story: Cult”
“Feud: Bette and Joan”
“Flint”
“Godless”
“Manhunt: Unabomber”
Long Form Adapted
“Big Little Lies”
“Fargo...
Winners will be honored at the 2018 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday, February 11, 2018. Ceremonies will take place in New York City and Los Angeles. The full list of 2018 nominations are below.
Drama Series
“The Americans”
“Better Call Saul”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Stranger Things”
Comedy Series
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Glow”
“Master of None
Silicon Valley”
“Veep”
Long Form Original
“American Horror Story: Cult”
“Feud: Bette and Joan”
“Flint”
“Godless”
“Manhunt: Unabomber”
Long Form Adapted
“Big Little Lies”
“Fargo...
- 12/7/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
“The Great War” is an upcoming three-part, six-hour American Experience documentary that will premiere on Monday, April 10, through Wednesday, April 12, 9:00-11:00 p.m. Et (check local listings) on PBS. Directed by award-winning filmmakers Stephen Ives, Amanda Pollak and Rob… Continue Reading →...
- 3/6/2017
- by shadowandact
- ShadowAndAct
Martin Luther King, Jr Day is Monday, so Indiewire's curation of Hulu's Documentaries page offers the story of his assassination, a number of profiles of African-American activists, personalities, and communities, and a portrait of South Africa's symbol of resistance against institutionalized racism. Stephen Ives' "Roads to Memphis," which screened as part of PBS' "American Experience," recounts how both Mlk Jr and his assassin, James Earl Ray, came to Memphis on the fateful day of April 4, 1968 that claimed the influential African-American activist's life. Individuals who were part of King's inner circle reflect on their friend and ally and on his work to bring true equality to all Americans. David Petersen's moving "Let the Church Say Amen," which premiered at Sundance, puts the spotlight on World Missions for Christ Church, a Washington, DC house of worship whose parishioners are largely poor...
- 1/14/2012
- Indiewire
PBS is set to take a comprehensive look at how comedy has treated issues of race, religion, sex, and language in American history with "American Comedy", a four-hour documentary series to be produced by Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, Intelligent Television and PBS station WETA in Washington, D.C. Filmmaker Stephen Ives will produce and direct the series, slated to premiere in 2007, from a script by Emmy winning Michelle Ferrari. Bernie Brillstein, Peter B. Kaufman, Dalton Delan and David S. Thompson are exec producing. Series advisers and veteran comedy authors David Rensin and Bill Zehme will conduct interviews with leading comedy actors, agents, managers, and producers for the project and write the companion book.
- 4/21/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PBS is set to take a comprehensive look at how comedy has treated issues of race, religion, sex, and language in American history with American Comedy, a four-hour documentary series to be produced by Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, Intelligent Television and PBS station WETA in Washington, D.C. Filmmaker Stephen Ives will produce and direct the series, slated to premiere in 2007, from a script by Emmy winning Michelle Ferrari. Bernie Brillstein, Peter B. Kaufman, Dalton Delan and David S. Thompson are exec producing. Series advisers and veteran comedy authors David Rensin and Bill Zehme will conduct interviews with leading comedy actors, agents, managers, and producers for the project and write the companion book.
- 4/19/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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