Tag: Bermuda Documentary Film Festival

Bermuda Documentary Film Festival April 2012 – Film Trailers

April 13, 2012 Published by

Watch the trailers of ten of the world’s best documentary films, that will be playing @ the Tradewinds Auditorium of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, April 20-22 in our play list or scroll down and watch each trailer individually with it’s relative synopse and showtime.

 
 

The Bermuda Documentary Film Festival (“Bermuda Docs”) is a bi-annual independent film festival, held every April and October, featuring top documentary films from around the world. It was founded by Duncan Hall in 2009. The first event was held at the Tradewinds Auditorium of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute in November 2009.

bermudadocs.com | facebook  | Festival guide

Friday April 20, 6:00 p.m. “Chasing Ice”

United States (2012), 76 minutes. Rated: NR Director: Jeff Orlowski. Excellence in Cinematography Award, 2012 Sundance Film Festival . 

“Visually breathtaking….” – Variety

In this stunningly beautiful documentary, filmmaker Jeff Orlowski follows National Geographic photographer-scientist James Balog – once a climate-change skeptic – as he brings to life the Extreme Ice Survey, a massive photography project utilising 30 cameras across three continents to gather visual evidence of the Earth’s melting glaciers. Chasing Ice tells the story of this visionary artist and his band of adventurers as they bequeath the magic of photography and the thrill of expedition to a new generation while capturing the most visible sign of climate change on the planet today. These hauntingly beautiful videos compress years into seconds and document ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at an alarming rate. Part adventure, part environmental activism, and full of gorgeous photography unlike anything seen before, Chasing Ice is a one-of-a-kind documentary that both celebrates the beauty of our world and raises important issues of what is happening to it.

Friday April 20, 8.15 p.m. “Under African Skies”

you tube video no longer available

United States (2012) 102 minutes. Rated: NR Director: Joe Berlinger(English, and Afrikaans and Zulu with English subtitles) Official Selection, 2012 Sundance Film Festival

“A pure-bliss celebration of Paul Simon’s landmark album.” – The Hollywood Reporter

Paul Simon’s historic Graceland album sold millions of copies and united cultures, yet divided world opinion on the boundaries of art, politics, and commerce. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary ofGraceland’s release, Simon returns to South Africa for a reunion concert that unearths the turbulent birth of the album. Despite its huge success as a popular fusion of American and African musical styles,Graceland spawned intense political crossfire. Simon was accused of breaking the United Nations’ cultural boycott of South Africa.Renowned filmmaker Joe Berlinger brilliantly intertwines both sides of a complex story as Simon revisits old ghosts and gains insights on his own musical journey. With the compelling perceptions of anti-apartheid activist Dali Tambo, as well as the remembrances of musicians including Ray Phiri, Hugh Masekela and Joseph Shabalala, Under African Skies is both a buoyant chronicle of unparalleled artistic achievement and a profound rumination on the role of the artist in society.

Saturday, April 21, 2:00 p.m. “The Island President”

United States (2011), 101 minutes, Rated PG Director: Jon Shenk People’s Choice Award, 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

“A wonderful documentary … plays more like a thriller.”– Awards Daily

On February 7, 2012, Mohamed Nasheed resigned the presidency of the Maldives, an island group situated in the Indian Ocean, under threat of violence in a coup d’etat perpetrated by security forces loyal to the country’s former dictator. This is the story of his first year in office as he confronted a problem greater than any world leader has ever faced – the literal survival of his country and everyone in it. After bringing democracy to the Maldives after 30 years of despotic rule, Nasheed knew that a rise of three feet in sea level due to global warming would submerge the 1,200 islands of the Maldives. His year in office culminated in his trip to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, where the film provides a rare glimpse of the political horse-trading that goes on at such a top-level global assembly – including a last-ditch effort by Nasheed to craft an agreement, and save his country.

eceding Short

Haiti Village Health

Bermuda (2012), 17 mins. Rated: PG

Director: Robert Zuill

Bermuda-based physician Dr. Tiffany Keenan has opened a medical clinic in impoverished Haiti.

Robert Zuill and Dr. Keenan will attend the screening.

Saturday, April 21, 5:00 p.m. “Robert Mugabe – What Happened?”

England / Zimbabwe / South Africa (2011), 80 minutes. Rated: PG Director: Simon Bright. Nominated, Best Documentary, 2012 South African Academy Awards

“A must-see for anyone who cares about Africa.”– The South African

In parallel narratives Simon Bright tells the stories of Rhodesia’s transition to Zimbabwe and the personal journey of Robert Mugabe. Branded a terrorist, then knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, Mugabe was once viewed as a Western- oriented, sophisticated gentleman. The film tracks his Shakespearean rise and fall, speaking to his closest comrades and assembling an archive of southern African images to powerfully track each of the decades of Mugabe’s reign. The film dramatically illustrates his successful liberation and development of the country but also his ruthless and cunning retention of power at all costs, and Zimbabwe’s subsequent decline. Giving credit where it’s due, the film is an exploration of what happened to a promising African politician, revealing the behind-the-scenes jostling for power and Mugabe’s emergence as unquestionably one of history’s most canny, devious leaders.

Saturday, April 21, 7:00 p.m. “In The Hour Of Victory“

Bermuda (2012), 80 minutes. Rated: PG Director: Lucinda Spurling World Premiere

Untouched for 50 years, a family finds a bundle of letters setting them on a journey into their past, and the rediscovery of a tragic love story amid the turmoil of World War II. Bermudian, Major Toby Smith lost his life at the battle of Overloon during the final Allied push for victory. This film weaves a haunting portrait etched in Toby’s own words through the letters he lovingly and dutifully wrote to his wife and five children as he agonised over loyalty to them and the war against the Nazis during four years of service abroad. This first-hand account uniquely re-captures the war-time era and its impact on a family, leaving a lasting legacy of what it means to serve one’s King and Country. Based on the book by Major Smith’s grandson, Jonathan Smith. Lucinda Spurling and Jonathan Smith will attend the screening.

Saturday, April 21, 9.15 p.m. “The Four-Year Plan”

you tube video no longer available

United Kingdom (2011), 96 minutes. Rated: R Director: Mat Hodgson. Best Documentary, 2011 Marbella International Film Festival

“Superb … Briatore dominates the film like Tony Soprano…”– The Independent

In 2007, Queens Park Rangers Football Club, facing relegation and bankruptcy, was rescued by billionaires Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone, Lakshmi Mittal, and Amit Bhatia. Their vision: to take a community of reluctant fans, semi-talented players and a roster of ever-changing managers from the Championship to the Premiership – the most lucrative promotion in competitive football. The new owners, risking ridicule and commercial failure, allowed cameras unprecedented access to record the roller-coaster ride. Filmmaker Mat Hodgson observes and listens in – eavesdrops, even – recording meetings, telephone conversations, matches and private chats that reveal the turbulent and dramatic developments in four seasons of QPR. Witness one of modern football’s most extraordinary stories, as manager after manager is fired and the club’s fans grow increasingly impatient. But when Neil Warnock becomes manager it looks like the tide might be turning.

Sunday, April 22, 3:00 p.m “First Position” 

you tube video no longer availableUnited States (2011), 90 minutes. Rated:PG Director: Bess Kargman. Audience Award, 2011 DOC NYC

“Touching … enormously satisfying … an inspiring human interest story.”– Variety

Every year, thousands of aspiring dancers enter one of the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions, the Youth America Grand Prix, where lifelong dreams are at stake. In the final round, with hundreds competing for only a handful of elite scholarships and contracts, practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. Bess Kargman’s award-winning documentary, First Position, follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet, struggling through bloodied feet, near exhaustion and debilitating injuries, all while navigating the drama of adolescence. A showcase of awe-inspiring talent, tenacity and passion,First Position paints a thrilling and moving portrait of the most gifted young ballet stars of tomorrow.

Sunday, April 22, 5:00 p.m “Mrs. Carey’s Concert”

Australia (2011), 95 minute. Rated: PG. Directors: Bob Connolly, Sophie Raymond. Best Documentary, 2012 Australian Academy Awards

“Well worth every exhilarating minute.”– Sydney Morning Herald

At a Sydney girls’ school, music director Karen Carey prepares her young orchestra for a performance at the Opera House. Believing in the transformative power of music, Carey insists upon a classical repertoire. She sets a dauntingly high performance standard and requires the participation of every girl in the school. The difficulty lies in convincing the girls to care as much as she does. Teenage rebel Iris delights in identifying and exploiting her instructors’ weaknesses. Star pupil Emily is outwardly more compliant, taking on leadership duties and performing a stunning solo. Technically brilliant, she must overcome her shyness and restraint to achieve genuine greatness. This moving and inspirational film is about talent, courage, rebellion, passion – and coming of age. Ultimately, it is about what is possible when you strive rather than taking the easy way out.

Sunday, April 22, 7.15 p.m. “Semper Fi: Always Faithful”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLYJi4jQbuc

United States (2011), 76 minutes. Rated: PG13. Directors: Rachel Libert,Tony Hardmon. Shortlisted for Best Documentary, 2012 Academy Awards

“A profile in pure courage.” – Washington Post

For nearly 25 years, Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger lived and breathed the “Corps” and was responsible for indoctrinating thousands of new recruits with its motto Semper Fidelis or “Always Faithful.” When Jerry’s nine-year-old daughter Janey died of a rare type of leukemia, his world collapsed. Grief-stricken, he struggled for years to make sense of what happened. His search for answers led to the shocking discovery of a Marine Corps cover-up of one of the largest toxic water contamination incidents in U.S. history. His fight reveals a grave injustice at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune – the base where Bermuda Regiment soldiers have trained annually since 1981 – and a looming environmental crisis at military sites across the country. Director Rachel Libert and Master Sgt. Ensminger will attend the screening. Winner of six festival awards.

Sunday, April 22, 9.30 p.m. “Fightville”United States (2011), 85 minutes. Rated: 14A. Directors: Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker. Official Selection, 2011 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

“Nothing short of incredible.” – Sound on Sight

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has grown from a controversial sideshow into a billion dollar enterprise promising fame and fortune for the men who emerge as champions. This exhilarating sports documentary tracks young hopefuls Dustin Poirier and Albert Stainback as they try to fight their way to MMA’s big leagues. Training at the Gladiators Academy in Lafayette, Louisiana under the watchful eye of trainer, resident philosopher and UFC fighter Tim Credeur, they travel the state taking on all comers presented to them by promoter Gil Guillory. The film is an intelligent treatment of a controversial subject, humanising and making sense of a sport that some think as brutal. There are plenty of fights for MMA enthusiasts – but, at its heart, this rousing and suspenseful film is about the value of hard work, the importance of dreams, and the challenge of finding meaning and purpose in adversity. Who has what it takes to be the best?

Articles

 
 

The Fifth #Bermuda Documentary #FilmFestival Oct 2011 – Film #Trailers

October 12, 2011 Published by

Sit back and watch all of the trailers of ten of the world’s best documentary films, that will be playing at at the Tradewinds Auditorium of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, October 21-23 or scroll down and watch each trailer individually with it’s relative synopses and showtime. 

Date & time  Film  Playlist Number

OCT 21 Friday  

6 p.m

Buck

 1.

8 p.m. 

             The Interrupters          

 2

Oct 22 Saturday        
2.00 p.m.

Gasland

 3
4.30 p.m. Rejoice and Shout   4

7.00 p.m.

 Tabloid   4
9.00 p.m. Senna  6
Oct 23 Sunday

3.00 p.m 

      The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975    

 7
5.00 p.m Project Nim 8
7.00 p.m You’ve Been Trumped 9

9.00 p.m

 Fire in Babylon  10

TICKETS page for information about how to purchase tickets. 

Click here to download a Festival guide

bermudadocs.com

 

1. Buck

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Release Date: June 17, 2011
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Buck Brannaman
Directors: Cindy Meehl
Studio: IFC Films

Plot:
“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.” So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems.

 

2. The Interrupters 

http://www.theinterrupters.com

Check out the new trailer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS5Hjhy1RhM

The Interrupters tells the moving and surprising stories of three Violence Interrupters who try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they once employed. From acclaimed director Steve James and bestselling author Alex Kotlowitz, this film is an unusually intimate journey into the stubborn, persistence of violence in our cities. Shot over the course of a year out of Kartemquin Films, The Interrupters captures a period in Chicago when it became a national symbol for the violence in our cities. During that period, the city was besieged by high-profile incidents, most notably the brutal beating of Derrion Albert, a Chicago High School student, whose death was caught on videotape.

The film’s main subjects work for an innovative organization, CeaseFire, which believes that the spread of violence mimics the spread of infectious diseases, and so the treatment should be similar: go after the most infected, and stop the infection at its source. The singular mission of the “Violence Interrupters” — who have credibility on the streets because of their own personal histories — is to intervene in conflicts before they explode into violence.

In The Interrupters, Ameena Matthews, whose father is Jeff Fort, one of the city’s most notorious gang leaders, was herself a drug ring enforcer. But having children and finding solace in her Muslim faith pulled her off the streets and grounded her. In the wake of Derrion Albert’s death, Ameena becomes a close confidante to his mother, and helps her through her grieving. Ameena, who is known among her colleagues for her fearlessness, befriends a feisty teenaged girl who reminds her of herself at that age. The film follows that friendship over the course of many months, as Ameena tries to nudge the troubled girl in the right direction.

Cobe Williams, scarred by his father’s murder, was in and out of prison, until he had had enough. His family — particularly a young son — helped him find his footing. Cobe disarms others with his humor and his general good nature. His most challenging moment comes when he has to confront a man so bent on revenge that Cobe has to pat him down to make sure he’s put away his gun. Like Ameena, he gets deeply involved in the lives of those he encounters, including a teenaged boy just out of prison and a young man from his old neighborhood who’s squatting in a foreclosed home.

Eddie Bocanegra is haunted by a murder he committed when he was seventeen. His CeaseFire work is a part of his repentance for what he did. Eddie is most deeply disturbed by the aftereffects of the violence on children, and so he spends much of his time working with younger kids in an effort to both keep them off the streets and to get support to those who need it — including a 16-year-old girl whose brother died in her arms. Soulful and empathic, Eddie, who learned to paint in prison, teaches art to children, trying to warn them of the debilitating trauma experienced by those touched by the violence.

The Interrupters follows Ameena, Cobe and Eddie as they go about their work, and while doing so reveals their own inspired journeys of hope and redemption. The film attempts to make sense of what CeaseFire’s Tio Hardiman calls, simply, “the madness”.

Follow @theinterrupters on Twitter and at Facebook/interrupters.

The Interrupters opens July 29 in New York.


3. GASLAND

(2010) Directed by Josh Fox. Winner of Special Jury Prize – Best US Documentary Feature – Sundance 2010. Screening at Cannes 2010.

It is happening all across America and now in Europe and Africa as well – rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from a multinational energy conglomerate wanting to lease their property. The Reason? In America, the company hopes to tap into a huge natural gas reservoir dubbed the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. Halliburton developed a way to get the gas out of the ground—a hydraulic drilling process called fracking—and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower.

But what comes out of the ground with that natural gas? How does it affect our air and drinking water? GASLAND is a powerful personal documentary that confronts these questions with spirit, strength, and a sense of humor. When filmmaker Josh Fox receives his cash offer in the mail, he travels across 32 states to meet other rural residents on the front lines of fracking. He discovers toxic streams, ruined aquifers, dying livestock, brutal illnesses, and kitchen sinks that burst into flame. He learns that all water is connected and perhaps some things are more valuable than money.

4. Rejoice and Shout 

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Release Date: 3 June 2011
Genre: Documentary
Directors: Don McGlynn
MPAA: PG
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Filled with hard-to-find performances and recordings by Mahalia Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Wards, James Cleveland, the Staple Singers, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and many others, Rejoice and Shout hon- ours and celebrates the musical history ofAfrican-AmericanChristianity. The film shows how gospel was, and remains, so much more than mere pop music — how it helped sustain the spirits during the darkest hours of repression during slavery, the Jim Crow era, and the civil rights movement. The film connects the dots that led to soul and R&B music — as Claude Jeter’s falsetto voice begat Al Green, so the Dixie Hummingbirds led to groups such as The Temptations. The film is a must-see not just for gospel aficionados but for anyone who appreciates the inspirational power of music.

5. Tabloid 

Documentary by Errol Morris

Tabloid Synopsis:
Thirty years before the antics of Lindsay, Paris and Britney, Joyce McKinney made her mark as a peerless tabloid queen. In TABLOID, Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Errol Morris (THE FOG OF WAR) follows the salacious adventures of this beauty queen with an IQ of 168, whose single-minded devotion to the man of her dreams leads her on a labyrinthine crusade for love. Down a surreal rabbit hole of kidnapping, masochistic Mormons, risque photography, magic underwear, celestial sex, jail time and a cloning laboratory in South Korea, Joyce’s fantastic exploits were constant headlines.

Genre: Documentary
Official Site: http://www.sundanceselects.com
Director: Errol Morris

6. Senna

In Cinemas June 3, 2011
www.facebook.com/sennamovie

Senna’s remarkable story, charting his physical and spiritual achievements on the track and off, his quest for perfection, and the mythical status he has since attained, is the subject of SENNA, a documentary feature that spans the racing legend’s years as an F1 driver, from his opening season in 1984 to his untimely death a decade later. Far more than a film for F1 fans, SENNA unfolds a remarkable story in a remarkable manner, eschewing many standard documentary techniques in favour of a more cinematic approach that makes full use of astounding footage, much of which is drawn from F1 archives and is previously unseen.


7.The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975

THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975 mobilizes a treasure trove of 16mm material shot by Swedish filmmakers, after languishing in a basement of a TV station for 30 years, into an irresistible mosaic of images, music, and narration chronicling the evolution one of our nation’s most indelible turning points, the Black Power movement. Featuring candid interviews with the movement’s most explosive revolutionary minds, including Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, Stokely Carmichael, and Kathleen Cleaver, the film explores the community, people and radical ideas of the movement. Music by Questlove and Om’Mas Keith, and commentary from and modern voices including Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, Talib Kweli, and Melvin Van Peebles give the historical footage a fresh sound and make THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-75 an exhilarating, unprecedented account of an American revolution.

8. Project Nim

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Release Date: 12 August 2011
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Bob Angelini, Bern Cohen, Reagan Leonard
Director: James Marsh
Studio: Roadside Attractions

Plot:
Tells the story of a chimpanzee taken from its mother at birth and raised like a human child by a family in a brownstone on the upper West Side in the 1970s.

9.  You’ve Been Trumped  

www.youvebeentrumped.com
Feature length (95 minute) documentary following the building of a golf resort by Donald Trump on a unique stretch of natural wilderness in Scotland

10. Fire in Babylon 10 

ON DVD, BLU-RAY, On-Demand & Download NOw

Order your copy now:
http://amzn.to/FIB-DVD
http://amzn.to/FIB-BluRay

They brought the world to its knees,
and a nation to its feet.

Fire In Babylon is the breathtaking story of how the West Indies triumphed over its colonial masters through the achievements of one of the most gifted teams in sporting history.

In a turbulent era of apartheid in South Africa; race riots in England and civil unrest in the Caribbean, the West Indian cricketers, led by the enigmatic Viv Richards, struck a defiant blow at the forces of white prejudice worldwide. Their undisputed skill, combined with a fearless spirit, allowed them to dominate the game at the highest level, replaying it on their own terrifying terms.

This is their story, told in their own words.

 

Bermuda Documentary Film Festival n.4 2011 – Film Trailers

April 29, 2011 Published by

Watch on YouTube

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB6D405536E99F6CF&si=Q7Rt9KcLFlWL8Naj

 

 
The Bermuda Documentary Film Festival (“Bermuda Docs”) is a bi-annual independent film festival, held every April and October, featuring top documentary films from around the world. It was founded by Duncan Hall in 2009. The first event was held at the Tradewinds Auditorium of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute in November 2009.
 
  1. Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders: Director: Mark Hopkins / United States / 2009 / 94 minutes / Rated R
  2. This Way of Life: Director: Thomas Burstyn / New Zealand / 2010 / 85 minutes / Rated G
  3. Autumn Gold: Director: Jan Tenhaven / Austria-Germany / 2010 / 94 minutes / Rated GS
  4. Shed Your Tears and Walk Away: Director: Jez Lewis / United Kingdom / 2010 / 92 minutes / Rated R
  5. Thunder Soul: Director: Mark Landsman / United States / 2010 / 83 minutes / Rated PG
  6. Poverty In Paradise: The Price We Pay: Director: Lucinda Spurling / Bermuda / 2011 / 58 minutes / Rated G
  7. Pink Saris: Director: Kim Longinotto / United Kingdom / 2010 / 96 minutes / Rated G Hindi with English subtitles
  8. !Women Art Revolution!: A (Formerly) Secret History: Director: Lynn Hershman Leeson / United States / 2010 / 83 minutes / Rated G
  9. The Green Wave: Director: Ali Samadi Ahadi / Germany-Iran / 2010 / 80 minutes / Rated PGEnglish and Farsi with English subtitles
  10. Kinshasa SymphonyDirectors: Claus Wischmann, Martin Baer / Germany / 2010 / 95 minutes / Rated G French and Lingala with English subtitles 

BermudaDocs.com

 

 

Poverty in Paradise #Bermuda : The Price We Pay @LucindaSpurling

April 28, 2011 Published by

Poverty in Paradise explores the causes and consequences of the widening gap between Bermuda’s wealthy and poor, the struggles families face in providing for themselves and their children, and the consequential spiral in crime plaguing the community. in 2000, 50% of black female-headed households with children were living at or below the poverty line and increasingly families are finding it impossible to afford basic necessities such as rent, food and electricity. The documentary gives a voice to the lives of homeless, low-income and working class mothers, addressing assumptions held by many as to why particular people live in poverty. The coalition’s hope is to affect the social and political will, transforming the way Bermudians understand their community and influencing the necessary policies to put Bermuda on a more positive and prosperous path for all. 

Lucinda Spurling | lucindaspurling.com | facebook | twitter | instagram | imdb

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The Bermuda Documentary Film Festival bermudadocs.com

Poverty in Paradise: The Price We Pay premiered at the Bermuda Docs Film Festival April 30, 2011: 8.30 p.m.Director: Lucinda Spurling (photo) / Bermuda / 2011 / 58 minutes / Rated G World Premiere – Presented by the Coalition for the Protection of Children

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