Exclusive: Film Independent has set 26 filmmakers from 15 nations to participate in the 2023 edition of their Global Media Makers LA Residency, which is being held in person this month.
A mentoring initiative and cultural exchange program that connects American filmmakers and industry pros with filmmakers spread across the globe, Gmm sees Fellows participate in filmmaking tracks focused on screenwriting, directing, creative development and documentary filmmaking, where they develop their current projects alongside a team of U.S. mentors.
The program, presented by Film Independent and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, further bolsters up-and-comers by providing access to master classes, industry sessions and field trips, as well as cultural engagement and networking opportunities.
This edition of Gmm is the eighth put on since 2016, and as always, the selection process was highly competitive, attracting a diverse pool of media makers, with the countries of Angola, Libya,...
A mentoring initiative and cultural exchange program that connects American filmmakers and industry pros with filmmakers spread across the globe, Gmm sees Fellows participate in filmmaking tracks focused on screenwriting, directing, creative development and documentary filmmaking, where they develop their current projects alongside a team of U.S. mentors.
The program, presented by Film Independent and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, further bolsters up-and-comers by providing access to master classes, industry sessions and field trips, as well as cultural engagement and networking opportunities.
This edition of Gmm is the eighth put on since 2016, and as always, the selection process was highly competitive, attracting a diverse pool of media makers, with the countries of Angola, Libya,...
- 6/5/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
In our Member Lens series, we’re spotlighting a cross-section of current Film Independent Members to see how they got where they are now, what they hope to do next and what being a part of Film Independent means to them. This profile originally ran in May 2022.
May is for Members! This week only: 50% off Filmmaker Lover or Filmmaker Pro. This month, we’re celebrating our Membership experience for filmmakers and film lovers all over the globe. All month-long you can enjoy an array of special discounts on Membership.
Melissa Haizlip isn’t someone who had to go searching for culture. The New York-based director, producer and actor grew up immersed in a world of creators, her uncle Ellis—host of the landmark PBS variety show Soul! (1968-1973) and subject of Haizlip’s Peabody-award nominated 2018 documentary Mr. Soul!—acting as the catalyst bringing of the 20th century’s most important...
May is for Members! This week only: 50% off Filmmaker Lover or Filmmaker Pro. This month, we’re celebrating our Membership experience for filmmakers and film lovers all over the globe. All month-long you can enjoy an array of special discounts on Membership.
Melissa Haizlip isn’t someone who had to go searching for culture. The New York-based director, producer and actor grew up immersed in a world of creators, her uncle Ellis—host of the landmark PBS variety show Soul! (1968-1973) and subject of Haizlip’s Peabody-award nominated 2018 documentary Mr. Soul!—acting as the catalyst bringing of the 20th century’s most important...
- 5/22/2023
- by Matt Warren
- Film Independent News & More
Charlie Chaplin in A Dog's Life It was World Sleep Day yesterday - read more about that here Dropping off is the last thing most people want to do at the cinema but sleep stories remain a constant in cinema, whether it's in children's fairy tales, Charlie Chaplin using a dog for a pillow or deep space. So this week, our Streaming Spotlight is catching some shut-eye, or perhaps just trying to.
Who Needs SleepVimeo
Who Needs Sleep? If you're looking for a few facts about sleep and why it's so important to us then Haskell Wexler's documentary (co-directed by Lisa Leeman) - which is free to watch on Vimeo - is a good place to start. He comes at the issue of long and irregular hours from the...
Who Needs SleepVimeo
Who Needs Sleep? If you're looking for a few facts about sleep and why it's so important to us then Haskell Wexler's documentary (co-directed by Lisa Leeman) - which is free to watch on Vimeo - is a good place to start. He comes at the issue of long and irregular hours from the...
- 3/19/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Six documentary and narrative industry mentors join select Siff audience to offer feedback on two projects.
Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) has announced the six industry mentors chosen for the virtual New Works-in-Progress Forum on April 15 and 16.
The 2021 Wip mentors for documentary are: funder-consultant Cecilia Lidin, film consultant Harry Vaughn, and producer Giedré Žickyté.
The 2021 Wip mentors for narrative are: journalist-programmer David Ansen, producer-distributor Sophie Mathisen, and film festival consultant and Screen International contributing editor, Nordic correspondent and former editor Wendy Mitchell.
The six industry mentors will combine with a select Siff audience to watch projects in the final stages of editing and provide feedback.
Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) has announced the six industry mentors chosen for the virtual New Works-in-Progress Forum on April 15 and 16.
The 2021 Wip mentors for documentary are: funder-consultant Cecilia Lidin, film consultant Harry Vaughn, and producer Giedré Žickyté.
The 2021 Wip mentors for narrative are: journalist-programmer David Ansen, producer-distributor Sophie Mathisen, and film festival consultant and Screen International contributing editor, Nordic correspondent and former editor Wendy Mitchell.
The six industry mentors will combine with a select Siff audience to watch projects in the final stages of editing and provide feedback.
- 4/13/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Sessions will not be geoblocked and run April 15-16.
Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) hierarchy has announced the 2021 filmmakers selected for the New Works-in-Progress Forum on April 15 and 16.
Directors Lisa Leeman and her US documentary Walk By Me aka Trans*Formed, and Kaltrina Krasniqi and her Kosovar narrative feature Vera Dreams Of The Sea have been chosen to take part.
This year the forum has been trimmed from four to two projects after the showcase and Siff were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The sessions, which will not be geoblocked, form part of this year’s virtual Siff that...
Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) hierarchy has announced the 2021 filmmakers selected for the New Works-in-Progress Forum on April 15 and 16.
Directors Lisa Leeman and her US documentary Walk By Me aka Trans*Formed, and Kaltrina Krasniqi and her Kosovar narrative feature Vera Dreams Of The Sea have been chosen to take part.
This year the forum has been trimmed from four to two projects after the showcase and Siff were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The sessions, which will not be geoblocked, form part of this year’s virtual Siff that...
- 3/23/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The independent feature documentary, "Awake: The Life of Yogananda," has grossed well over $1 million in theatrical release and theatrical on-demand release via Gathr®, it was reported today.
The film -- exploring the life and teachings of Indian yoga master Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the best-selling classic Autobiography of a Yogi, which last month ranked number 4 on the La Times best-sellers list for non-fiction – was co-directed by Paola di Florio ("Speaking in Strings," "Home of the Brave") and Lisa Leeman ("Out of Faith," "Crazy Wisdom: The Life and Times of Chogyam Trungpa"), and produced and self-distributed by award-winning CounterPoint Films. Richard Abramowitz of Abramorama spearheaded the theatrical component of the release.
“The commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm of the 'Awake' team were essential elements in the extraordinary reception this film received in the theatrical marketplace,” says Abramowitz. “Audiences showed up in force from the first day, and continue to do so in great numbers four months later. It’s a testimony to the power of the film and the community that has embraced it. I feel privileged to be a part of it.”
"Awake: The Life of Yogananda" premiered theatrically on October 10, 2014 in New York. The film has been shown across the country in over 100 theaters, as well as in more than 150 screenings via the Gathr® “Theatrical On Demand” platform.
“We attribute the success of the film to a combination of the timeliness of the subject matter and the hybrid distribution model that we have embraced,” says "Awake" producer Peter Rader. “As part of our strategy we have relied heavily on grass roots support and the booming interest in Yoga today, as well as the flexibility of an on-demand platform like Gathr to appeal to potential movie-goers across the country, not just those in major markets.”
The successful grassroots efforts is evidenced by the film’s robust performance in certain markets with significant community outreach. As an example, in November there were times "Awake" out-grossed "Interstellar" in weekend numbers at several venues, including the Sundance Sunset in Los Angeles and The Texas Theatre in Dallas.
“It’s profoundly gratifying to see how the message of this film is reaching people of all backgrounds across the country, and soon the world,” says Paola di Florio, Co-Writer and Co-Director along with Lisa Leeman.
“Awake has broken the mold by appealing to diverse audiences with its experiential, meditative journey and its message of empowerment,” adds Rader. “We now have plans for international distribution, to be announced shortly.”
For more information about "Awake: The Life of Yogananda," visit Here...
The film -- exploring the life and teachings of Indian yoga master Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the best-selling classic Autobiography of a Yogi, which last month ranked number 4 on the La Times best-sellers list for non-fiction – was co-directed by Paola di Florio ("Speaking in Strings," "Home of the Brave") and Lisa Leeman ("Out of Faith," "Crazy Wisdom: The Life and Times of Chogyam Trungpa"), and produced and self-distributed by award-winning CounterPoint Films. Richard Abramowitz of Abramorama spearheaded the theatrical component of the release.
“The commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm of the 'Awake' team were essential elements in the extraordinary reception this film received in the theatrical marketplace,” says Abramowitz. “Audiences showed up in force from the first day, and continue to do so in great numbers four months later. It’s a testimony to the power of the film and the community that has embraced it. I feel privileged to be a part of it.”
"Awake: The Life of Yogananda" premiered theatrically on October 10, 2014 in New York. The film has been shown across the country in over 100 theaters, as well as in more than 150 screenings via the Gathr® “Theatrical On Demand” platform.
“We attribute the success of the film to a combination of the timeliness of the subject matter and the hybrid distribution model that we have embraced,” says "Awake" producer Peter Rader. “As part of our strategy we have relied heavily on grass roots support and the booming interest in Yoga today, as well as the flexibility of an on-demand platform like Gathr to appeal to potential movie-goers across the country, not just those in major markets.”
The successful grassroots efforts is evidenced by the film’s robust performance in certain markets with significant community outreach. As an example, in November there were times "Awake" out-grossed "Interstellar" in weekend numbers at several venues, including the Sundance Sunset in Los Angeles and The Texas Theatre in Dallas.
“It’s profoundly gratifying to see how the message of this film is reaching people of all backgrounds across the country, and soon the world,” says Paola di Florio, Co-Writer and Co-Director along with Lisa Leeman.
“Awake has broken the mold by appealing to diverse audiences with its experiential, meditative journey and its message of empowerment,” adds Rader. “We now have plans for international distribution, to be announced shortly.”
For more information about "Awake: The Life of Yogananda," visit Here...
- 1/12/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Yoga’s journey from 5,000-year-old spiritual practice to means to achieving flat abs and tight glutes encapsulates the interlocked processes of cultural appropriation, ravenous capitalism, and the Western ability to reduce everything to a trend.
In telling the larger-than-life true story of Paramahansa Yogananda, the guru who brought yoga and meditation to the American mainstream in the 1920s, co-directors Paola di Florio and Lisa Leeman remind viewers of the practices' spiritual meaning.
Composed of seamlessly interlocked stock footage, old photos, and dramatic re-enactments, the film traces Yogananda’s life from childhood (when mystics foretold his spiritual powers and path) and his apprenticeship with his own guru to his triumphant introduction of Hindu ...
In telling the larger-than-life true story of Paramahansa Yogananda, the guru who brought yoga and meditation to the American mainstream in the 1920s, co-directors Paola di Florio and Lisa Leeman remind viewers of the practices' spiritual meaning.
Composed of seamlessly interlocked stock footage, old photos, and dramatic re-enactments, the film traces Yogananda’s life from childhood (when mystics foretold his spiritual powers and path) and his apprenticeship with his own guru to his triumphant introduction of Hindu ...
- 10/10/2014
- Village Voice
At the inaugural Illuminate Film Festival, the nation’s first mind-body-spirit film festival, "Awake: The Life of Yogananda" earned the Audience Award for Best Film and "When My Sorrow Died: The Legend of Armen Ra and the Theramin" received the Director’s Choice Award.
During the Festival’s four-day run, attendance reached 3,000. Filmgoers attended 23 screenings that included 7 sell-outs. The event attracted 35 filmmakers and industry guests and featured 10 workshop presenters, 10 local outreach partner organizations, 12 local musicians and nearly 100 volunteers. Over 500,000 hits and more than 8,500 unique visitors viewed the Illuminate website during the month of May.
Other award winners were: "No Strangers," Audience Award for Best Short Film, and "May I Be Frank," Illuminate Impact Award.
“The overwhelmingly positive response from the filmmakers, filmgoers, sponsors and community to our inaugural festival was exhilarating and humbling,” said Illuminate Founder and Executive Director Danette Wolpert. “I was barraged by audience members sharing profound breakthroughs, aha moments, acknowledgements of kindness and commitments to action for the enlightenment of themselves and their communities. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
Sophie Jane Mortimer, producer of "Song of the New Earth," said that “if the first year was this good, I can’t wait to see what next year will bring.”
Armen Ra, whose film premiered in Sedona was also overwhelmed. “A spectacular screening and performance at Illuminate Film Festival,” he wrote. “This was the first festival that accepted our film. Sold out with waiting list, honey! Standing ovation, the most loving beautiful people … I am humbled over and over again. To the festival team and every single person who came, thank you. Sedona is sacred.”
"When My Sorrow Died" captured the story of Persian-American Theremin virtuoso Ra and his journey through his earliest years in Iran, to his wild time modeling and tearing up the New York drag scene to his recovery from alcohol addiction and emergence as a world-renowned master of the Theremin, the only instrument played without actually touching it. He performed after the film.
Tony Carito of Sedona commented, “Illuminate. This word will now be connected in my mind to the Illuminate Film Festival, a global conscious cinema movement. My personal experience involved only four of the 23 films, but I was profoundly moved by each and every one of them.”
In its Southwest Premiere, "Awake: The Life of Yogananda" a told the unconventional biography of the legendary East Indian mystic who introduced yoga and meditation to the West in the 1920s.
"Awake" director Lisa Leeman wrote in an email that she was “so honored to have been part of the first Illuminate Film Festival. Lasting transformation happened in Sedona. It’s surreal to be back in La. “
"No Strangers" celebrated the wonder of world culture and the plight of indigenous people through the images and commentary of acclaimed photographers.
"May I Be Frank" is the true story of Frank Ferrante’s personal transformation. The 54-year-old, 290-pound Sicilian American from Brooklyn with Hepatitis C handed his life over to the 20-something owners of a raw-vegan San Francisco restaurant who committed him to changing his ways over 42 days.
Illuminate also featured the world premieres of
• "Death Makes Life Possible," a beautiful and ground-breaking journey produced by Deepak Chopra, MD, and Marilyn Schlitz, PhD through one of life’s most taboo topics: death.
• "On Meditation," a fascinating portrait series offering a rare glimpse into how meditation transformed the personal and professional lives of notable figures including director David Lynch, actor Giancarlo Esposito ( "Do the Right Thing," "The Usual Suspects") and Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, and late author Peter Mathieson.
• "Dance of Liberation," the visually stunning, inspirational journey of Parashakti, a lost and broken young woman transformed into a powerful soul healer, who bravely tries to mend her deepest childhood wound along the way.
For more information, visit www.ILLUMINATEFilmFestival.com...
During the Festival’s four-day run, attendance reached 3,000. Filmgoers attended 23 screenings that included 7 sell-outs. The event attracted 35 filmmakers and industry guests and featured 10 workshop presenters, 10 local outreach partner organizations, 12 local musicians and nearly 100 volunteers. Over 500,000 hits and more than 8,500 unique visitors viewed the Illuminate website during the month of May.
Other award winners were: "No Strangers," Audience Award for Best Short Film, and "May I Be Frank," Illuminate Impact Award.
“The overwhelmingly positive response from the filmmakers, filmgoers, sponsors and community to our inaugural festival was exhilarating and humbling,” said Illuminate Founder and Executive Director Danette Wolpert. “I was barraged by audience members sharing profound breakthroughs, aha moments, acknowledgements of kindness and commitments to action for the enlightenment of themselves and their communities. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
Sophie Jane Mortimer, producer of "Song of the New Earth," said that “if the first year was this good, I can’t wait to see what next year will bring.”
Armen Ra, whose film premiered in Sedona was also overwhelmed. “A spectacular screening and performance at Illuminate Film Festival,” he wrote. “This was the first festival that accepted our film. Sold out with waiting list, honey! Standing ovation, the most loving beautiful people … I am humbled over and over again. To the festival team and every single person who came, thank you. Sedona is sacred.”
"When My Sorrow Died" captured the story of Persian-American Theremin virtuoso Ra and his journey through his earliest years in Iran, to his wild time modeling and tearing up the New York drag scene to his recovery from alcohol addiction and emergence as a world-renowned master of the Theremin, the only instrument played without actually touching it. He performed after the film.
Tony Carito of Sedona commented, “Illuminate. This word will now be connected in my mind to the Illuminate Film Festival, a global conscious cinema movement. My personal experience involved only four of the 23 films, but I was profoundly moved by each and every one of them.”
In its Southwest Premiere, "Awake: The Life of Yogananda" a told the unconventional biography of the legendary East Indian mystic who introduced yoga and meditation to the West in the 1920s.
"Awake" director Lisa Leeman wrote in an email that she was “so honored to have been part of the first Illuminate Film Festival. Lasting transformation happened in Sedona. It’s surreal to be back in La. “
"No Strangers" celebrated the wonder of world culture and the plight of indigenous people through the images and commentary of acclaimed photographers.
"May I Be Frank" is the true story of Frank Ferrante’s personal transformation. The 54-year-old, 290-pound Sicilian American from Brooklyn with Hepatitis C handed his life over to the 20-something owners of a raw-vegan San Francisco restaurant who committed him to changing his ways over 42 days.
Illuminate also featured the world premieres of
• "Death Makes Life Possible," a beautiful and ground-breaking journey produced by Deepak Chopra, MD, and Marilyn Schlitz, PhD through one of life’s most taboo topics: death.
• "On Meditation," a fascinating portrait series offering a rare glimpse into how meditation transformed the personal and professional lives of notable figures including director David Lynch, actor Giancarlo Esposito ( "Do the Right Thing," "The Usual Suspects") and Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, and late author Peter Mathieson.
• "Dance of Liberation," the visually stunning, inspirational journey of Parashakti, a lost and broken young woman transformed into a powerful soul healer, who bravely tries to mend her deepest childhood wound along the way.
For more information, visit www.ILLUMINATEFilmFestival.com...
- 6/17/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The new date for the next Doc U is Wednesday, March 21.
Bring your questions to The Cinefamliy on Wednesday, March 21 (moved from Tuesday, March 20) and join moderator Lisa Leeman (One Lucky Elephant, Crazy Wisdom: The Life and Times of Chogyam Trunga) as she discusses the ins and outs of accounting, business management, and tax reporting, with Chris Perez Associate at the law firm of Donaldson & Callif, Jeffrey Schwarz of Automat Pictures, and Lee Storey (Smile 'Til It Hurts: The Up With People Story).
Documentary filmmakers come in ...
Bring your questions to The Cinefamliy on Wednesday, March 21 (moved from Tuesday, March 20) and join moderator Lisa Leeman (One Lucky Elephant, Crazy Wisdom: The Life and Times of Chogyam Trunga) as she discusses the ins and outs of accounting, business management, and tax reporting, with Chris Perez Associate at the law firm of Donaldson & Callif, Jeffrey Schwarz of Automat Pictures, and Lee Storey (Smile 'Til It Hurts: The Up With People Story).
Documentary filmmakers come in ...
- 3/13/2012
- by cchyr
- International Documentary Association
Drake Doremus' indie romance "Like Crazy" will screen as the opening-night film at the seventh annual Film Independent Forum, Film Independent announced Wednesday. The annual forum for independent filmmakers, which is staged by Film Independent and presented by indieWIRE, will take place the weekend of Oct. 21-23 at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. Speakers and panelists will include directors Patty Jenkins, Lisa Leeman, Mike Ott, Jeremy Podeswa and Mark and Michael Polish; producers Laura Bickford, Gina Kwon and Alan Poul; executives Matthew Greenfield and Sara Bernstein; exhibitor Greg Laemmle and...
- 9/14/2011
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Drake Doremus‘ Sundance Grand Prize winner Like Crazy will be the opening night film for the 7th annual Film Independent Forum, according to the non-profit.
Taking place Oct. 21-23 at the Director Guild of America in L.A., Like Crazy (which Paramount Vantage opens on Oct. 28) will kick off the the three-day forum for emerging and established independent filmmakers that covers production, distribution, documentary and new media.
Speakers for the 2011 Film Independent Forum include:
Sara Bernstein, HBO Documentary Films
Laura Bickford, producer, Duplicity, Che
Josh Braun, Submarine
Lisa Callif, Donaldson & Callif, Llp
Juan Devis, Kcet Public Media
Arthur Dong, director, Hollywood Chinese
Jennifer Dubin, producer, The Perfect Family, Good Dick
Craig Emanuel, Loeb & Loeb
Christian Gaines, withoutabox.com and imdb.com
Matthew Greenfield, Fox Searchlight
Azazel Jacobs, director, Terri
Patty Jenkins, director, Monster, The Killing
Gina Kwon, producer, The Future
Greg Laemmle, Laemmle Theatres
Lisa Leeman, director, One Lucky Elephant
David Magdael,...
Taking place Oct. 21-23 at the Director Guild of America in L.A., Like Crazy (which Paramount Vantage opens on Oct. 28) will kick off the the three-day forum for emerging and established independent filmmakers that covers production, distribution, documentary and new media.
Speakers for the 2011 Film Independent Forum include:
Sara Bernstein, HBO Documentary Films
Laura Bickford, producer, Duplicity, Che
Josh Braun, Submarine
Lisa Callif, Donaldson & Callif, Llp
Juan Devis, Kcet Public Media
Arthur Dong, director, Hollywood Chinese
Jennifer Dubin, producer, The Perfect Family, Good Dick
Craig Emanuel, Loeb & Loeb
Christian Gaines, withoutabox.com and imdb.com
Matthew Greenfield, Fox Searchlight
Azazel Jacobs, director, Terri
Patty Jenkins, director, Monster, The Killing
Gina Kwon, producer, The Future
Greg Laemmle, Laemmle Theatres
Lisa Leeman, director, One Lucky Elephant
David Magdael,...
- 9/14/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Title: One Lucky Elephant Director: Lisa Leeman Featuring: David Balding, Carol Buckley, Flora the Elephant and others A lot of nature documentaries, or films that look at animals, focus in either-or fashion on their behavioral impulses or relationship to and interaction with humans, ignoring the potentiality of a more complex causal relationship. In other words, do human masters, even kind ones, make some animals sad? The heartwarming and thought-provoking new documentary ‘One Lucky Elephant’ tacitly asks this and other tough questions in presenting a look at a compassionate but aging pachyderm owner who’s searching for a suitable place to retire his circus elephant. David Balding adopted Flora, an orphaned African...
- 6/18/2011
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
First, a quick reminder that entries on several films playing here or there have been updated through today: Film Socialisme, Agrarian Utopia, Road to Nowhere and The Tree of Life. Alright, on with the weekend...
"Jj Abrams imitates to flatter with Super 8, an homage to the seminal science fiction films of Steven Spielberg that succumbs to empty nostalgic pandering," argues Nick Schager in Slant. "As with his Star Trek, Abrams's latest puts a modern spin on classical material, though here reinvention isn't the goal so much as slavish duplication embellished with muscular CG effects. It's akin to returning to a cinematic womb of Spielbergian father-son issues, suburban households under extraterrestrial strain, and teen romance, friendship, and maturation via out-of-this-world circumstances. The effect of such a modus operandi is initial coziness quickly giving way to disheartening familiarity, with Abrams's own preoccupations (if he had any to begin with) becoming subsumed beneath the root themes,...
"Jj Abrams imitates to flatter with Super 8, an homage to the seminal science fiction films of Steven Spielberg that succumbs to empty nostalgic pandering," argues Nick Schager in Slant. "As with his Star Trek, Abrams's latest puts a modern spin on classical material, though here reinvention isn't the goal so much as slavish duplication embellished with muscular CG effects. It's akin to returning to a cinematic womb of Spielbergian father-son issues, suburban households under extraterrestrial strain, and teen romance, friendship, and maturation via out-of-this-world circumstances. The effect of such a modus operandi is initial coziness quickly giving way to disheartening familiarity, with Abrams's own preoccupations (if he had any to begin with) becoming subsumed beneath the root themes,...
- 6/12/2011
- MUBI
Ten years in the making, Lisa Leeman's documentary tells the story of Flora the Circus Elephant. Born in Africa, she was orphaned after poachers killed her mother. Adopted by circus producer David Balding, she became a beloved member of his family, eagerly learning tricks and entertaining children for many years at St. Louis's Circus Flora, named in her honor.
- 6/12/2011
- Arizona Reporter
Lisa Leeman's documentary, "One Lucky Elephant," tracks the nine-year odyssey circus producer David Balding goes on in order to find the star of his circus, the elephant Flora, a good home. Leeman caught up with indieWIRE to discuss the genesis of the project and what it was like working with an elephant. Click here to read indieWIRE's review of the film. It opened today at New York's Film Forum. Responses ...
- 6/8/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Lisa Leeman's documentary, "One Lucky Elephant," tracks the nine-year odyssey of circus producer David Balding as he tries to find the star of his circus, the elephant Flora, a good home. Leeman caught up with indieWIRE to discuss the genesis of the project and what it was like working with an elephant. Click here to read indieWIRE's review of the film. It opened today at New York's Film Forum. The ...
- 6/8/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Lisa Leeman's documentary, "One Lucky Elephant," tracks the nine-year odyssey of circus producer David Balding as he tries to find the star of his circus, the elephant Flora, a good home. Leeman caught up with indieWIRE to discuss the genesis of the project and what it was like working with an elephant. Click here to read indieWIRE's review of the film. It opened today at New York's Film Forum. The ...
- 6/8/2011
- Indiewire
Lisa Leeman's documentary, "One Lucky Elephant," tracks the nine-year odyssey of circus producer David Balding as he tries to find the star of his circus, the elephant Flora, a good home. Leeman caught up with indieWIRE to discuss the genesis of the project and what it was like working with an elephant. Click here to read indieWIRE's review of the film. It opened today at New York's Film Forum. The ...
- 6/8/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Elephants are magnificent creatures, possessed of great intelligence and sensitivity, so it's little wonder that people who regularly work with or care for them become devoted. That's mostly a good thing, particularly for elephants who've been transplanted far from home: If you're a 10,000-pound African elephant living 8,000 miles away from your native habitat, you need all the help you can get. Still, these marvelous animals are strangers among us, and understanding them isn't easy. How much human love is too much for an elephant? That's the question Lisa Leeman's One Lucky Elephant attempts to answer, without sentimentality but with the right amount of compassion.
- 6/8/2011
- Movieline
Reviewed by Annlee Ellingson
(from the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Lisa Leeman
Written by: Cristina Colissimo and Lisa Leeman
Starring: Flora the elephant, David Balding, Carol Buckley, Laura Balding and Willie Theison
Ten years in the making, Lisa Leeman’s documentary first crosses paths with an African elephant named Flora and her keeper David Balding in 2000. Flora has been the namesake and centerpiece of Balding’s St. Louis circus for 16 years. But she’s a teenager now and doesn’t enjoy performing anymore and, frankly, is getting to be a bit much to handle. When we meet her, she’s merely mischievous, playfully interrupting an on-camera interview with Balding. But one gleans from his slightly exasperated tone that this is everyday behavior for an animal he considers his daughter.
Concerned that maybe he didn’t do right by Flora by adopting her, and feeling guilty for keeping her from socializing with other elephants,...
(from the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Lisa Leeman
Written by: Cristina Colissimo and Lisa Leeman
Starring: Flora the elephant, David Balding, Carol Buckley, Laura Balding and Willie Theison
Ten years in the making, Lisa Leeman’s documentary first crosses paths with an African elephant named Flora and her keeper David Balding in 2000. Flora has been the namesake and centerpiece of Balding’s St. Louis circus for 16 years. But she’s a teenager now and doesn’t enjoy performing anymore and, frankly, is getting to be a bit much to handle. When we meet her, she’s merely mischievous, playfully interrupting an on-camera interview with Balding. But one gleans from his slightly exasperated tone that this is everyday behavior for an animal he considers his daughter.
Concerned that maybe he didn’t do right by Flora by adopting her, and feeling guilty for keeping her from socializing with other elephants,...
- 6/6/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Reviewed by Annlee Ellingson
(from the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Lisa Leeman
Written by: Cristina Colissimo and Lisa Leeman
Starring: Flora the elephant, David Balding, Carol Buckley, Laura Balding and Willie Theison
Ten years in the making, Lisa Leeman’s documentary first crosses paths with an African elephant named Flora and her keeper David Balding in 2000. Flora has been the namesake and centerpiece of Balding’s St. Louis circus for 16 years. But she’s a teenager now and doesn’t enjoy performing anymore and, frankly, is getting to be a bit much to handle. When we meet her, she’s merely mischievous, playfully interrupting an on-camera interview with Balding. But one gleans from his slightly exasperated tone that this is everyday behavior for an animal he considers his daughter.
Concerned that maybe he didn’t do right by Flora by adopting her, and feeling guilty for keeping her from socializing with other elephants,...
(from the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Lisa Leeman
Written by: Cristina Colissimo and Lisa Leeman
Starring: Flora the elephant, David Balding, Carol Buckley, Laura Balding and Willie Theison
Ten years in the making, Lisa Leeman’s documentary first crosses paths with an African elephant named Flora and her keeper David Balding in 2000. Flora has been the namesake and centerpiece of Balding’s St. Louis circus for 16 years. But she’s a teenager now and doesn’t enjoy performing anymore and, frankly, is getting to be a bit much to handle. When we meet her, she’s merely mischievous, playfully interrupting an on-camera interview with Balding. But one gleans from his slightly exasperated tone that this is everyday behavior for an animal he considers his daughter.
Concerned that maybe he didn’t do right by Flora by adopting her, and feeling guilty for keeping her from socializing with other elephants,...
- 6/6/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
"I guess I'm not 100% rational about all this," says David Balding, the affable circus owner at the center of Lisa Leeman's affecting documentary "One Lucky Elephant." It's a statement that positions him on the same instinctual level as his exotic pet, Flora, an orphaned African elephant that the Missouri-based ringleader raised from childhood. Covering an impressive 10-year span, the movie examines the man-beast dynamic as Balding seeks a better ...
- 6/6/2011
- Indiewire
The 8th annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is all set to run for ten days this Feb. 11-20 in Missoula, Montana. This year, the fest will have a whopping 140 film programs, a growth that necessitates an expansion from its regular home at the Historic Wilma Theatre — where it will occupy two screens — to also feature screenings at the former Pipestone Mountaineering store.
Special events at the fest include a free opening night screening of How to Die in Oregon sponsored by HBO Documentary Films. The film, directed by Peter D. Richardson, examines the impact the legalization of physician-assisted suicide has had on the state. (In 1994, Oregon was the first state to legalize the practice.)
Also, indie rock band Yo La Tengo will perform their acclaimed live score of the films of pioneering French underwater documentary film director Jean Painlevé, something they have done for other film festivals all over the world.
Special events at the fest include a free opening night screening of How to Die in Oregon sponsored by HBO Documentary Films. The film, directed by Peter D. Richardson, examines the impact the legalization of physician-assisted suicide has had on the state. (In 1994, Oregon was the first state to legalize the practice.)
Also, indie rock band Yo La Tengo will perform their acclaimed live score of the films of pioneering French underwater documentary film director Jean Painlevé, something they have done for other film festivals all over the world.
- 1/15/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Making headway on recent statements that Oprah Winfrey's new Own network will be a player in the documentary scene, the fledgling channel announced three pick ups Monday. Own has acquired rights to Lisa Leeman's "One Lucky Elephant," Nimisha Mukerji and Philip Lyall's "65_Redroses," and Matthew D. Kallis' Most Valuable Players. The films will air as part of Own's monthly documentary film club, debuting in Spring 2011. Filmed over a decade, ...
- 11/15/2010
- Indiewire
“I’ve always wanted an elephant.” These words are spoken by David Balding — the former guardian of Flora — an African elephant for which Saint Louis’ own Circus Flora was named. Having adopted Flora as a young orphaned elephant, he developed a strong and caring relationship with her and turns her into the star of his circus.
One Lucky Elephant is a charming documentary that begins with David having a bittersweet epiphany, that as much as he loves Flora, she is getting older and needs to be retired from show business. The film follows David’s search for a suitable new home for Flora, but David finds out this is not only like watching your child leave home for good, but that the process is far from smooth.
First considering a return to Africa for Flora, David searches for a sanctuary where Flora will be safe and happy. One Lucky Elephant...
One Lucky Elephant is a charming documentary that begins with David having a bittersweet epiphany, that as much as he loves Flora, she is getting older and needs to be retired from show business. The film follows David’s search for a suitable new home for Flora, but David finds out this is not only like watching your child leave home for good, but that the process is far from smooth.
First considering a return to Africa for Flora, David searches for a sanctuary where Flora will be safe and happy. One Lucky Elephant...
- 11/13/2010
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Ten years in the making, Lisa Leeman’s documentary first crosses paths with an African elephant named Flora and her keeper David Balding in 2000. Flora has been the namesake and centerpiece of David’s St. Louis circus for 16 years. But she’s a teenager now and doesn’t enjoy performing anymore and, frankly, is getting to be a bit much to handle. When we meet her, she’s merely mischievous, playfully interrupting an on-camera interview with Balding. But one gleans from his slightly exasperated tone that this is everyday behavior for an animal he considers his daughter.
Concerned that maybe he didn’t do right by Flora by adopting her, and feeling guilty for keeping her from socializing with other elephants, Balding has decided to retire his star attraction from the big top. Thus begins a decade-long odyssey to find Flora a new home. But all along, Balding has desired...
Concerned that maybe he didn’t do right by Flora by adopting her, and feeling guilty for keeping her from socializing with other elephants, Balding has decided to retire his star attraction from the big top. Thus begins a decade-long odyssey to find Flora a new home. But all along, Balding has desired...
- 6/28/2010
- Moving Pictures Magazine
David Balding.s lifelong dream was to own an elephant, and in 1984 he fulfilled it by acquiring Flora, an African elephant, in 1984. After having her as the centerpiece of his St. Louis circus for 16 years, however, Balding realized a change in the pachyderm and knew exactly what was causing it: elephants are social creatures and she had not seen another elephant in 10 years. Thus began his search to find a new, safe home for his beloved pet, a nine year search that was documented by director Lisa Leeman and made into the film One Lucky Elephant. It.s an overused adjective when trying to describe elephants, but majestic is really the only word that does them justice. Huge, amazing creatures, they are almost human in their actions and emotions and Leeman succeeds in bringing this to her documentary. The story is not Operation Dumbo Drop; it.s not overly saccharine,...
- 6/27/2010
- cinemablend.com
One Lucky Elephant, The Tillman Story, A Family, Dog Sweat: Los Angeles Film Festival 2010 (June 19)
Pat Tillman as shown in Amir Bar-Lev‘s The Tillman Story (top); Flora and David in Lisa Leeman‘s One Lucky Elephant (middle); Jesper Christensen in Pernille Fischer Christensen‘s A Family (bottom) The documentaries One Lucky Elephant and The Tillman Story, Pernille Fischer Christensen‘s A Family, and Hossein Keshavarz‘s Dog Sweat are a few of the highlights at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Saturday evening, June 19. Lisa Leeman‘s One Lucky Elephant portrays the heartfelt relationship between a circus owner and an elephant named Flora. Flora, ready to retire, must get used to living among other elephants after spending her life in a circus surrounded by another type of animal (human beings). Amir Bar-Lev‘s The Tillman Story examines the exploitation of National Football League player Pat Tillman as a red-white-and-blue poster boy for the American military, whose powers-that-be later decided to lie about Tillman’s...
- 6/19/2010
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
The 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival is set to run June 17-27 in a brand new location. Oh, it’s still in L.A, but it’s moving across town, from Westwood — where it’s been held the past few years — all the way over to Downtown.
The main “hub” for the fest will be the new L.A. Live complex, but there will also be screenings at other locations, such as the Downtown Independent and Redcat theaters. The city is really trying to build downtown up into a major arts and culture hub, so the festival moving there fits in with that agenda. Film Independent, the organization that runs Laff, also runs the annual Independent Spirit Awards, an event that also moved downtown — from Santa Monica — this year.
On Bad Lit, I tend to like to put up festival lineups that include days and times of screenings. However, since I...
The main “hub” for the fest will be the new L.A. Live complex, but there will also be screenings at other locations, such as the Downtown Independent and Redcat theaters. The city is really trying to build downtown up into a major arts and culture hub, so the festival moving there fits in with that agenda. Film Independent, the organization that runs Laff, also runs the annual Independent Spirit Awards, an event that also moved downtown — from Santa Monica — this year.
On Bad Lit, I tend to like to put up festival lineups that include days and times of screenings. However, since I...
- 5/17/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
David and Flora in Lisa Leeman’s One Lucky Elephant The Los Angeles Film Festival will take place from June 17-27. Camera, Camera: (Director Malcolm Murray Writer Michael Meyer, Producer Josh Haner.) This gorgeously shot, poetic documentary, set in the free-for-all playground of Laos, gazes at the ex-pats and tourists who live out their fantasies of the "exotic East" through the lenses of their omnipresent cameras. World Premiere Circo – USA/Mexico: (Director Aaron Schock, Producers Aaron Schock, Sally Jo Fifer, Jannat Gargi.) The Ponce family – who have owned a traveling circus for over one hundred years – find themselves struggling to survive a growing family conflict and the severe economic downturn in this beautifully crafted documentary. World Premiere Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone: [...]...
- 5/5/2010
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
Like the headline says, the complete lineup for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival has been announced and it's a fascinating, eclectic mix. How happy am I to see music doc Separado! in there? Pretty damn happy, as it's one of my absolute favorites of the year and has been resoundingly overlooked. Read the complete announcement below!
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Los Angeles (May 4, 2010) - Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, announced the official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Festival will run from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. Live. Now in its sixteenth year, the Festival is recognized as a world-class event, showcasing the best in new American...
Normal 0 false false false En-ca X-none X-none MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Los Angeles (May 4, 2010) - Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, announced the official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Festival will run from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. Live. Now in its sixteenth year, the Festival is recognized as a world-class event, showcasing the best in new American...
- 5/4/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, announced the official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Festival will run from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. Live. Now in its sixteenth year, the Festival is recognized as a world-class event, showcasing the best in new American and international cinema and providing the movie-loving public with access to critically acclaimed filmmakers, film industry professionals, and emerging talent from around the world.
The 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen over 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos, representing more than 40 countries. This year, the Festival received more than 4,700 submissions from filmmakers around the world. The final selections represent 28 World, North American, and U.S. premieres, which more...
The 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen over 200 feature films, shorts, and music videos, representing more than 40 countries. This year, the Festival received more than 4,700 submissions from filmmakers around the world. The final selections represent 28 World, North American, and U.S. premieres, which more...
- 5/4/2010
- by Staff
- Hollywoodnews.com
Normal.dotm 0 0 1 3258 18575 Film Independent 154 37 22811 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false
- Focus Features' The Kids Are All Right to Kick Off Festival -
- World Premiere of Universal Pictures' 3-D CGI Feature Despicable Me Selected for Closing Night -
- Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Eclipse to have World Premiere -
- Galas include Animal Kingdom, Cyrus, Mahler on the Couch, Revolución,& Waiting for Superman -
Los Angeles (May 4, 2010) - Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, announced the official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Festival will run from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. Live. Now in its sixteenth year, the Festival is recognized as a world-class event, showcasing...
- Focus Features' The Kids Are All Right to Kick Off Festival -
- World Premiere of Universal Pictures' 3-D CGI Feature Despicable Me Selected for Closing Night -
- Summit Entertainment's The Twilight Saga: Eclipse to have World Premiere -
- Galas include Animal Kingdom, Cyrus, Mahler on the Couch, Revolución,& Waiting for Superman -
Los Angeles (May 4, 2010) - Today Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and year-round artist development programs and exhibition events, announced the official selections for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times. The Festival will run from Thursday, June 17 to Sunday, June 27 in downtown Los Angeles, with its central hub at L.A. Live. Now in its sixteenth year, the Festival is recognized as a world-class event, showcasing...
- 5/4/2010
- by maint
- Film Independent
PARK CITY -- Veteran cinematographer Haskell Wexler turns his camera on his own industry as he peels away the veneer of glamour to expose exploitative practices and inhumane working hours in "Who Needs Sleep?," an informative though not particularly exciting documentary and a plea for safe working conditions for people in his field.
Given the stature of the man holding the camera -- part of the time he's being shot by someone else--the film is not as visually interesting as one would expect. Although Wexler and co-director Lisa Leeman broaden the film by taking a visit to a sleep clinic to learn about sleep debt and raising quality of life issues, his doc will mostly appeal to people working in the film business, particularly when it gets into details of union bargaining, etc.
Shot over a seven-year period, Wexler, who has a folksy, easy going manner, carried his DV camera along as he talked to producers, gaffers, editors and others who labor behind the scenes, sometimes working 15-20 hour days for weeks at a time. One man admits that when he's shooting a film, he is never able to have dinner with his family. Afraid of the repercussions of speaking up or being tagged as a whiner, most are reluctant to complain. Then there are all the wannabes who would jump at a chance to take their jobs.
Fatal car accidents caused by sleep deprivation killed at least two of Wexler's colleagues and their deaths spurred the making of this film. Sleep also may have been a key factor in the death of his friend, cinematographer Conrad Hall, who wrote an open letter urging guidelines for hours on the set. Using Michael Moore, ambush tactics, Wexler confronted officials at OSHA and his own union to no avail.
Wexler has worked with and has access to the best. His interviewees include: John Sayles, Richard Zanuck, Paul Newman, Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks Sam Mendes, Caleb Deschanel, Vittorio Storaro and Billy Crystal.
Given the stature of the man holding the camera -- part of the time he's being shot by someone else--the film is not as visually interesting as one would expect. Although Wexler and co-director Lisa Leeman broaden the film by taking a visit to a sleep clinic to learn about sleep debt and raising quality of life issues, his doc will mostly appeal to people working in the film business, particularly when it gets into details of union bargaining, etc.
Shot over a seven-year period, Wexler, who has a folksy, easy going manner, carried his DV camera along as he talked to producers, gaffers, editors and others who labor behind the scenes, sometimes working 15-20 hour days for weeks at a time. One man admits that when he's shooting a film, he is never able to have dinner with his family. Afraid of the repercussions of speaking up or being tagged as a whiner, most are reluctant to complain. Then there are all the wannabes who would jump at a chance to take their jobs.
Fatal car accidents caused by sleep deprivation killed at least two of Wexler's colleagues and their deaths spurred the making of this film. Sleep also may have been a key factor in the death of his friend, cinematographer Conrad Hall, who wrote an open letter urging guidelines for hours on the set. Using Michael Moore, ambush tactics, Wexler confronted officials at OSHA and his own union to no avail.
Wexler has worked with and has access to the best. His interviewees include: John Sayles, Richard Zanuck, Paul Newman, Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks Sam Mendes, Caleb Deschanel, Vittorio Storaro and Billy Crystal.
- 1/25/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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