Latent Image Productions, the company that brought us “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” has reinvented itself as Rebelstudio. A new name, for a new digital age of cinema.

The first documentary release from Rebelstudio, “Sculpture by the Sea” is now available on DVD.

Sculpture by the Sea had its 10th anniversary along the spectacular 2km Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk in Sydney, Australia, for three weeks in November 2006. The exhibition featured 108 works by artists from 15 different countries across the globe.

Conceived by David Handley in 1997, as a temporary exhibition showing a marriage of sculptural works and Australia’s sublime coastal landscape, the exhibition has evolved from a humble one-day event organized by volunteers working out of David’s living room, to become a bi-coastal series of annual exhibitions that captures the world’s imagination.

This film follows the journey of David and his team at Sculpture by the Sea over the past decade to show how and why this has become one of the most unique Arts events in the world.

Purchase the DVD here

UPDATE: The Bridge will be released to DVD on June 12, 2007. 

The Golden Gate Bridge, with its views of the San Francisco Bay and skyline, is an American icon and a major tourist destination. But it is also the site of more suicides than any other place in the world. The question of why this particular bridge is such a magnet for suicides (along with the broader issue of suicide, and mental illness in general) is explored in Eric Steele’s debut documentary, which he began to work on after reading Tad Friend’s New Yorker article on the subject. Every day during 2004, Steele set up his cameras and filmed the Golden Gate Bridge during daylight hours. Day after day, he and his crew observed thousands of people crossing the bridge on foot from San Francisco to Marin County and back. They filmed everyone from tourists to bicyclists, but ever so often a person would climb over one small part of the bridge’s mile-long railing and let go. However, while the camera can record the act of suicide, it cannot tell us what leads a person to such an extreme action or what thoughts run through someone’s mind during those last moments. In an attempt to uncover some of these mysteries, Steele crossed the country in order to interview friends and families of the jumpers he captured on film, on-scene witnesses to various jumps, and even a jump survivor. These testimonials elevate the jumpers in the film from nameless statistics to human beings whose lives have inexorably led them to a tragically decisive moment on the Golden Gate Bridge. Like the bridge itself, this film is beautiful, powerful, and possesses an underlying darkness.

–David Wonk, Programmer for Tribeca Film Festival

From January through December 2004, Steel used 10-to-12-person crews to train his cameras day and night on this landmark — using both close-up lenses and wide angle shots to see the full expanse of the bridge.

By the time he finished, he had taped 23 of the 24 suicides that occurred that year. Now he has released a documentary called “The Bridge” that shows some of the jumps. The film has produced both praise and condemnation for his choices.

–ABC News Story

Trailer

UPDATE:  Read Bryan Newbury’s review of The Bridge.

www.joerednerthemovie.com

Loved…Admired…Hated!!!

Charismatic to some and revolting to others. Joe Redner is most often associated with owning one of the most famous nude clubs in America, the Mons Venus.

Although Joe has been fighting the city’s zoning laws, and winning, since the 1970’s, Joe Redner and the Mons Venus came into the national spotlight in 1999 when Tampa’s City Council, with support from Mayor Dick Greco, tried to ban lap dancing. The city ordinance passed, but not without an explosive fight that made national headlines with feature stories on ABC’s “20/20” and Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”

Many terms have been used to describe Joe, including: pimp, pervert, patriot, philanderer, politician, instigator, intellectual, self- promoter, humanitarian, hypocrite, publicity hound, male pig, exploiter, criminal, narcissist, hero and genius.

This is the FIRST full- feature, completely independent documentary to explore the life of legendary Florida strip club owner, Joe Redner, also known as the father of the nude lap dance.

Directed by Shelby McIntyre and produced by Chris Woods, this documentary explores the man that has been arrested over 140 times, earned his GED in jail at the age of 40, became an avid student of the law, got clean and sober in the mid- 1980’s, and has run for local public office 7 times.

With interviews from family members, friends, and foes, this documentary explores the many facets of the enigma named Joe Redner, not just what you have seen on the TV and in newspapers.

Whether you love him or hate him this intriguing documentary makes you want to watch him every step of the way!!

No Average Joe: The Story of Joe Redner will be complete this Summer 2007.

www.joerednerthemovie.com

UPDATE: See announced 2007 date below.
When: November 10-18, 2007
Where: Guía de Isora, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands
What: Newer documentary festival that fccuses on documentaries shot in the South and developing countries.  Festival includes five main sections: Official Competition Section, Parallel Sections, DOCUSUR Market, Workshops, and Civilization forum.
Website: http://www.docusur.es/

The feature-length documentary film ADDICTION is the centerpiece of the Addiction project. Bringing together the nation’s leading experts with award- winning filmmakers, it consists of nine separate segments, including: “Saturday Night in a Dallas ER,” by Jon Alpert; “A Mother’s Desperation,” by Susan Froemke and Albert Maysles; “The Science of Relapse,” by Eugene Jarecki and Susan Froemke; “The Adolescent Addict,” by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner; “Brain Imaging,” by Liz Garbus and Rory Kennedy; “Opiate Addiction: A New Medication,” by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus; “Topiramate: A Clinical Trial for Alcoholism,” by Alan and Susan Raymond; “Steamfitters Local Union 638,” by Barbara Kopple; and “Insurance Woes,” by Susan Froemke. ADDICTION is produced by John Hoffman and Susan Froemke; executive produced by Sheila Nevins.
http://www.hbo.com/addiction/

When: November 8-18, 2007
Where: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
What: The Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal (RIDM) was founded in 1998 by documentary filmmakers who wanted to give documentary film a showcase that would encourage the emergence of new ways of looking at the world.  An annual event with an international scope, the RIDM is now in its 10th year. Each edition offers some one hundred films from the four corners of the world, with a focus on films that stand out for their unique vision and artistic merit. Recognizing that documentary film truly is a privileged means for understanding the challenges facing our society and our planet, the program is organized around themes – social, political and environmental, and features workshops and events, that engage audiences, film professionals and partners in conversation and debate. In numerous workshops and the RIDM Forum, industry people can also share ideas on the creative process involved in documentary making, and discuss political and artistic concerns.
Website: www.ridm.qc.ca

When:  April 21 & 22, 2007
Where: Tishman Auditorium, TheNew School, 66 West 12 Street, New York, NY 10011.
What: The theme of the festival is the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To be considered, a film must reflect one or more of the MDGs. The Festival is open to all filmmakers from or contracted by United Nations offices, funds, programmes, and agencies, and to the general public. THE CALL FOR ENTRIES IS NOW CLOSED. Film finalists will be announced on March 12, 2007, and listed on the Festival Web site shortly thereafter. Winners will be announced at the Festival. In addition to the film screenings and award presentations, there will be workshops and panel discussions featuring the filmmakers, and invited representatives from the United Nations, The New School, MCAINY, and, for the first time, The Mount Sinai Hospital and School of Medicine, which will lend its expertise to those discussions that center on global health.
Website: www.storiesfromthefield.org

The Documentary Group is proud to present the U.S. theatrical release of OPERATION HOMECOMING, a film by Richard E. Robbins. Following its premiere at New York’s Film Forum in February, the film begins a multi-city engagement March 30th, 2007.

Praised by the Village Voice, the New York, Times, Salon.com, and numerous others, OPERATION HOMECOMING is a unique documentary that explores the firsthand accounts of American troops through their own words. The film is built upon the Operation Homecoming initiative created by the National Endowment for the Arts to gather the writing of soldiers and their families who have participated in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through interviews and dramatic readings by such actors as Robert Duvall, Josh Lucas, Beau Bridges, Blair Underwood, Justin Kirk, Aaron Eckhart, Chris Gorham and John Krasinski, the film transforms selections from this collection of writing into a deep examination of the experiences of the men and women who are serving in America’s armed forces. At the same time it provides depth and context to these experiences through a broader look at the universal themes of war literature.

The writing in OPERATION HOMECOMING covers the full spectrum – poetry, fiction, memoir, letters, journals, and essays. Through an extraordinary group of men and women, it offers a profound window into the human side of America’s current conflicts. The film also includes interviews with great American war writers from other conflicts including Tim O’Brien, James Salter, Tobias Wolff, and Anthony Swofford.

At the core of the writing in OPERATION HOMECOMING is a deep desire by all those who have served in war to come to terms with their experiences. Throughout the film the soldiers, young and old, express a profound hope that people will listen to their stories and try to understand what they have seen. As with all of the great war writers, stretching back as far as the Iliad, the soldier writers of OPERATION HOMECOMING are trying to find meaning in the chaos and brutality of war. The film is a deeply humanizing look at those who suffer the de-humanization of war.

OPERATION HOMECOMING will be part of the series America at a Crossroads, beginning April 15, 2007 on PBS. America at a Crossroads is a major public television event premiering on PBS in April 2007 that explores the challenges confronting the post-9/11 world — including the war on terrorism; the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; the experience of American troops serving abroad; the struggle for balance within the Muslim world; and global perspectives on America’s role overseas. Funding for Operation Homecoming was provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Boeing Company, and the Independent Television Service.
———–
Operation Homecoming is and official selection at numerous film festivals, including Full Frame, True/False, Dallas AFI, and the Florida Film Festival.

www.operationhomecomingthemovie.com

PRESS RELEASE

Minneapolis Produced Documentary Now Available on NetFlix.com

MINNEAPOLIS – “Bunkers: An American Music Story”, a documentary produced by locally owned production company, Bradford Entertainment Inc, is now available at NetFlix.com.

The film features performances and interviews by world-class musicians, such as Ricky Peterson (2006 worldwide tour with John Mayer), Donnie Lamarca (2004 nationwide tour with Johnny Lang), Melanie Rosales (former background vocalist for Bonnie Raitt), Debbie Duncan (nominated Best Female Vocalist, 2006 MN Music Awards), Tina Schlieske, the TC Jammers, Mick Sterling & the Stud Brothers (now disbanded), and GB Leighton. These are rare and exceptional performances, some of which will never happen again.

Recent reviews of the film include:

“Incredible cinematography and a must-see DVD for any music aficionado.”
-Mark Rosen, Entertainment Worldwide

“The music is amazing!”
-Jalyn Henton, PBS

“Don’t miss it!”
-S. Bargelli, Rock ‘n’ Blues Today

“I consider myself a fan.”
-Ryan Cracknell, Moviews

The film is also available at Electric Fetus, Cheapo, Borders Bookstores, Amazon.com, and via the film e-store at www.bunkersmusicstory.com.

For information about the film, please contact:

Nicole Thompson
Bradford Entertainment, Inc.
763-503-3532
nicole@bradfordentertainmentinc.com
www.bradfordentertainmentinc.com

On March 20, explore the many mysteries of ancient wisdom and occult belief when KOCH Vision releases DAN BURSTEIN’S SECRETS OF THE OCCULT, an illuminating DVD exploring the controversial and often overlooked link between magic and science. The spellbinding DVD, from Hidden Treasures Productions, includes two one-hour programs, The Magicians and The Scientists, which examine the world of the occult from the Ancient Greek and Egyptian magicians to the cutting edge scientists of today.

“In ancient times there was no separate study known as science. It was the magicians and the alchemists who were doing science. Since the birth of what we call modern science, science and the occult have parted paths,” said Dan Burstein, best-selling author and SECRETS OF THE OCCULT expert. Today however the old relationship between Science and the Occult is experiencing a new surge of popularity in holistic philosophy and New Age beliefs. “Serious physicists are contemplating time travel and parallel universes. We’re going to get some very big breakthroughs through science, but some of them may come from science looking at what some might call the occult,” adds Burstein.

From Harry Potter and Eragon to The Da Vinci Code and The Prestige, today’s pop culture is finding more and more of its inspiration in the occult. The growing interest in occultism’s underlining principles and beliefs has even spawned a new subgenre, called “enlightainment,” which blends life advice and the quest for greater truth with elements of entertainment. The quantum physics inspired, part narrative-part documentary film What the Bleep Do We Know!? was the first surprise hit of this category. In recent months, The Secret, a self-help DVD that reveals the hidden wisdom purportedly known to such thinkers as Plato and Albert Einstein, has become a top-seller on Amazon.com. “The merging of ‘magic’ and contemporary science is blurring the lines between old and new,” said Dan Gurlitz, General Manager of KOCH Vision. “SECRETS OF THE OCCULT investigates this transformation, presenting compelling fuel for thought and discussion.”

While clairvoyant Madame Helena Blavatsky and British occultist Aleister Crowley became forerunners of many new age ideals only later to be condemned, innovators such as Galileo, Einstein and Freud, whose advances are considered scientific in nature, were also fascinated with the occult. “Don’t forget, Sir Isaac Newton, the ‘father of modern science’ in many people’s eyes, is also considered the ‘last of the great magicians.’ He was fascinated with alchemy and the occult and spent much of his life trying to develop a scientific understanding of occult beliefs,” observes Burstein.

This sort of special knowledge is what the Secrets of… series is committed to uncovering. The previous two documentaries in the series, SECRETS OF MARY MAGDALENE and SECRETS OF ANGELS, DEMONS & MASONS, also explore the crossroads between spirituality, religion and science.

As documentary filmmakers, Debbie Melnyk and Rick Caine looked up to Michael Moore.Then they tried to do a documentary of their own about him _ and ran into the same sort of resistance Moore himself famously faces in his own films.

The result is “Manufacturing Dissent,” which turns the camera on the confrontational documentarian and examines some of his methods. Among their revelations in the movie, which had its world premiere Saturday night at the South by Southwest film festival: That Moore actually did speak with then-General Motors chairman Roger Smith, the evasive subject of his 1989 debut “Roger & Me,” but chose to withhold that footage from the final cut.

The husband-and-wife directors spent over two years making the movie, which follows Moore on his college tour promoting 2004’s “Fahrenheit 9/11.” The film shows Melnyk repeatedly approaching Moore for an interview and being rejected; members of Moore’s team also kick the couple out of the audience at one of his speeches, saying they weren’t allowed to be shooting there. [read more…]

The Documentary Channel (DOC) and VMIX.COM are co-sponsoring a Do It Yourself Documentary Contest and are seeking immediate submissions of digital videos from registered members of www.vmix.com. The DIY Doc Contest is soliciting entrants to submit a 1-10 minute documentary film around any subject they are passionate about. Music documentary and ‘mockumentary’ films are permissible and encouraged.

The contest will accept official entries between March 1 at 12:01 a.m. ET and May 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET. A panel of judges from the DOC Programming Department will determine the top three winning entries. Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity and originality, adherence to required topic, and popularity via VMIX members’ five-star ratings. VMIX members have the opportunity to vote on entries through May 15. Winning entries, notified by VMIX, will be announced publicly on June 7.

The Grand Prize Winner will have their entry telecast on The Documentary Channel in primetime this summer and also will be awarded an 80 GB video iPod. The Second Prize Winner will receive a six-month subscription to www.greencine.com; and the Third Prize Winner will receive a prize pack of autographed DVDs from award-winning documentarians.

“We are thrilled to partner with VMIX.com on documentary contest of the DIY variety to encourage budding filmmakers to put their skills to the test and to provide a rare opportunity for that fledgling talent to receive national television exposure,” says Kate Pearson, DOC senior vice president of programming. “We’re looking forward to judging the entries and seeing who can make the most of this opportunity.”

Complete DIY Doc Contest details are available at vmix.com.

By Umut Newbury
March 5, 2007

What do Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Danny Kaye and John Huston have in common?

They are legendary Hollywood stars beloved to this day by average Americans. No one would dare call them unpatriotic today. In September of 1947, they had the courage to form a group called the Committee for the First Amendment to stand up and protest the infamous McCarthy witch hunt of House Committee on Un-American Activities.

In the following 60 years, Americans seem to have forgotten that sometimes, it takes high profile celebrities to capture the spotlight and speak up against government activities that regular folks question. Somehow, in the post 9/11 world, we are OK with gawking at photos of Tom Cruise’s baby, Britney Spears’ head shaving adventures and the televised custody proceedings for Anne Nicole Smith’s orphaned infant. But we’ve made sport of making fun of the likes of Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and Kanye West. We want to know every little dirty secret of our celebrities, except for what they have to say about what’s going on in the world.

Enter into this twisted worldview some unlikely characters and you’ve got a very fascinating documentary about the Orwellian madness in which we live. Shut Up & Sing chronicles the First Amendment battle of the Dixie Chicks – three Texan country stars who previously brought the American public such culturally illuminating songs as “Goodbye Earl.”

In 2003, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl. They were the best selling female group of all time and Lipton tea was the official sponsor of their “Top of the World” tour. It just so happened that at the same time, the United States was preparing to go to war in Iraq. When the Dixie Chicks showed up in London on March 10, there were thousands of people in the streets rallying against the war. With that backdrop to their concert, Natalie Maines did what a lot of entertainers would have done, which is to make sure that the frustration people feel about some people from Texas does not spread to others like herself and her bandmates. So, she said a few words: “We’re with you on this one. We don’t want this war. We’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.” And the crowd cheered loudly. The band had a great performance, their manager Simon Renshaw told them they rocked the house and they moved on to their next stop. In the meanwhile, The Guardian proceeded to quote Maines and the U.S. media soon followed. Within days, the reputation as well as the lives of three good ole girls from the Lone Star state would change forever. Read the rest of this entry »

James Cameron recently shocked the world with his claim to have found the tomb of Jesus and Mary. Across the world archaeologists came out against his claims and bloodline conspiracy theorists jumped for joy. But the real secret has been hidden and remained a closely guarded sacred truth and now Philip Gardiner is about to reveal the story in The Ark, The Shroud and Mary.

March will see the launch of one of the most amazing tales ever to be told. The Ark, The Shroud and Mary – a book and DVD – will reveal for the first time who the man was imaged on the Shroud of Turin, what relevance this has to the Ark of the Covenant and the ramifications for Christianity are immense.

In addition, Gardiner will reveal through scientific evidence just how the Shroud was made and re-date it in the process.

But the story goes much deeper, for during Gardiner’s extraordinary investigations he uncovers and meets up with an ancient Brotherhood who have guarded the secret for centuries and who claim cross-religious links that unite the strands of our sacred past like never before.

This book and DVD reveals the golden thread throughout time and across nations and creeds that Jesus and his contemporaries were fully part of.

The DVD is released by Reality Films, part of Reality Entertainment and along with the book will be available across the internet stores and distributed throughout Barnes and Noble with front of store placement.

Philip Gardiner is an international best selling author of several books, including Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon’s Temple Revealed and Secrets of the Serpent – both now also DVD documentaries. He speaks internationally at venues all over the world from the USA to Australia, England to France and has appeared on over 400 radio and TV shows. His website has much more information and can be found at www.gardinersworld.com

Contact: Michael Pralin at michael@real2can.com for press packs, bookings etc and for first edition signed copies of the book or Media Contact: Simon Warwick-Smith warwick@vom.com or on US (707) 939-9212

“Post No Bills” documentary film screening ( from 16mm !)

Wednesday, March 7, 2007
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue
New York City

“Post No Bills” is the award-winning documentary on infamous satirical ‘guerilla’ poster artist Robbie Conal, a professional painter who has splattered hundreds of thousands of his caricatured paintings-as-posters across the United States’ urban streets.

Anthology Film Archives’ website • Post No Bills website • map to venue

*Release Source: NomadsLand LLC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

www.NomadsLand.com – a new Internet platform for social issue filmmakers, political satirists – launches its Alpha site, prepares for growth

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Feb. 17, 2007 – NomadsLand.com – an internet video platform for social issue filmmakers and political satirists – has launched its Alpha website in its mission to offer alternative distribution for cinema with a social message.
Like YouTube and Google Video, anyone – from professional filmmakers to video enthusiasts – can upload their films to www.NomadsLand.com. The company will host feature films, documentaries, music videos and political satire for free – as long as the film seeks to make a social commentary, stimulate political conversation or encourage some social action.
“NomadsLand is many things to many people,” says Hutchins. “Its an entertaining information site, an informative entertainment site, a window to the world, but above all, a forum for social ideas and ultimately a grass-roots campaign for change.”
Although much of the video can be viewed for free, www.NomadsLand.com will offer secure downloads and rentals on premium films featured on the site, sharing 50 percent of its revenues with each director.
Among the initial films being distributed on www.NomadsLand.com are Dhruv Dhawan’s From Dust and Davin Hutchins’ The Art of Flight. From Dust, a touching documentary which examines the socio-political aftermath of the Asian tsunami, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, HotDocs, OneWorld Human Rights Film Festival, Dubai International Film Festival and the Kara Film Festival.
The Art of Flight is a guerrilla documentary tracing the trail of Sudanese refugees from Darfur to Egypt and their tales of survival. The film premiered at AFI Fest Hollywood, International Documentary Festival Amsterdam and the Bangkok International Film Festival. Other films explore topics such as homelessness in San Francisco, belly dancing in Egypt and the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.
“Most independent films are grossly under-distributed,” says Hutchins. “One of the main goals of NomadsLand is to assist filmmakers who were short changed after their festival run. Through viral e-mail, search engines and RSS, they can reach a vastly larger audience. Likewise, film aficionados can see quality films they’d never see otherwise without sifting through a cloud of amateur video. We think films can make a lasting impact of they ‘permanently premiere’ for people who care deeply about these issues.”
“Not everyone is a born storyteller. But everyone has a story. We want to provide the resources and royalties to develop an ever-growing army of raconteurs which can help return mass media back to the masses.”

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MEDIA CONTACT: NomadsLand Press Relations, press [at] nomadsland.com, (202) 470-0875.