Longest-running documentary film festival in North America unfolds October 18-26 in mountain spa city in Arkansas An impressive array of the most acclaimed documentary films of the year will be showcased at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, unfolding October 18-26 in the historic spa resort town of central Arkansas. The lineup for North America's longest running doc festival includes For Sama, the SXSW-winning film by Waad Al-Khateab and Edward Watts that centers on Al-Khateab's effort to raise her baby daughter in the midst of Syria's brutal civil war. Also on the program: One Child Nation, the Sundance-winning film by Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang on China's shocking enforcement of its one child policy; Lauren Greenfield's The Kingmaker, on former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos, and Roger Ross Williams' The Apollo, about the history of the famed Harlem theater and its impact today. All four of those films appear on the just-announced DOC NYC shortlist of the top documentaries of 2019. In the Feature documentary category we have over 50% female directors; a program of true equality. HSDFI will also screen Varda by Agnès, the final documentary by cinema legend Agnès Varda, who died earlier this year at the age of 89. The Hot Springs lineup numbers 64 documentary features and 59 doc shorts. “Our goal is to showcase award winning documentaries while pushing the program forward with bold and challenging films,” Jessie Fairbanks, the festival's director of programming, said in a statement. “When curating the program it is of great importance that the filmmakers invited to present at Hot Springs are diverse in background, experience, and representation... In the Feature documentary category we have over 50% female directors; a program of true equality.” Among US documentaries, the program boasts Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, director Janice Engel's film on the late beloved Texas journalist; Bedlam, a documentary about the appalling state of mental health treatment in America, directed by Dr. Kenneth Paul Rosenberg; Made in Boise, Beth Aala's "empathetic and eye-opening peek at the burgeoning business of surrogacy in Boise, Idaho," and Midge Costin's Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, featuring many of Hollywood's greatest sound designers. A selection of images from U.S. documentaries playing at the Hot Springs Documentary Film FestivalAmong international documentaries joining For Sama, One Child Nation, The Kingmaker and Varda by Agnès on the program are Meeting Gorbachev, Werner Herzog's film based on three in-depth interviews he conducted with Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the USSR. Kifaru, from director David Hambridge, provides "an intimate look at the extinction of the northern white rhino through the eyes of two Kenyan caretakers charged with protecting Sudan, the last remaining male." Love Child, the new film from Eva Mulvad, offers "a poignant portrait of forbidden lovers, who escape to Turkey with their secret child; desperate to start a new life they find themselves stalled in bureaucratic limbo." Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth, directed by Jeanie Finlay, focuses on trans British man Freddy McConnell, who bore his own child. Sea of Shadows, directed by Richard Ladkani, is a documentary thriller on the desperate attempt to save the last-remaining vaquita, a dolphin-like creature driven to near extinction by illegal poaching in the Sea of Cortez. It won the audience award at the Sundance Film Festival. Our Time Machine, directed by Yang Sun and S. Leo Chiang, explores the stunning work of Chinese artist Maleonn, who created a sort of memory play out of steampunk puppets in honor of his aging father. A selection of images from international documentaries programmed at the Hot Springs Documentary Film FestivalHSDFI includes a Southern Documentaries section. Among films in that category are 17 Blocks, directed by Davy Rothbart, a documentary about the struggles of an African-American family who live in close proximity to the U.S. Capitol. The film, winner of prizes at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, was recently acquired by MTV as part of a new new slate of documentary programming headed up by Sheila Nevins. Mossville: When Great Trees Fall, directed by Alexander Glustrom, exposes a case of environmental racism in Louisiana, where black families were driven out of the historic community of Mossville to make way for a petrochemical plant. The stars of Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, are two police officers in San Antonio, Texas, rare members of law enforcement who show extraordinary skill and care in encounters with mentally ill people. Jenifer McShane directed the film, which earned a Special Jury Recognition for Empathy and Craft at the SXSW Film Festival. A selection of images from the Southern Documentaries section at the Hot Springs Documentary Film FestivalThis is the full lineup at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival:
US Documentaries THE APOLLO Dir. Roger Ross Williams Internationally renowned for having influenced American and pop culture more than any other entertainment venue, the Apollo Theater created opportunities for new talent to be seen and has served as a launchpad for myriad artists including Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. AUTONOMY Dir. Alex Horwitz A brave new world awaits us in this engrossing investigation of technology and the ethics of self-driving cars — will they will control us or set us free? BEDLAM Dir. Kenneth Paul Rosenberg Over a period of five years, a psychiatrist visits homeless camps, emergency medical facilities, and jails tracking the lives of individuals suffering from debilitating mental illness. CHANGING THE GAME Dir. Michael Barnett Transgender high school athletes from across the country compete at the top of their fields, while also challenging the boundaries and perceptions of fairness and discrimination. CIRCUS OF BOOKS Dir. Rachel Mason Karen and Barry Mason are the typical American parents — with the exception of owning and operating the infamous LA gay porn book store, Circus of Books. FUNNY YOU NEVER KNEW Dir. Andrew Hunt The pioneering comic genius of 1950s live television era superstars Imogene Coca, George Gobel, and Martha Raye take center stage in this crowd-pleasing tribute. HARVEST SEASON Dir. Bernardo Ruiz An elegant panoramic portrait of the multitude of Mexican-American winemakers and migrant workers who are the quiet driving force behind the premium California wine industry. HUMAN NATURE Dir. Adam Bolt An unprecedented gene engineering tool known as CRISPR presents the biggest scientific breakthrough of the modern era, holding the potential to edit human DNA — but at what cost? JUMP SHOT: THE KENNY SAILORS STORY Dir. Jacob Hamilton Meet Kenny Sailors, inventor of the jump shot, whose “leaping one-hander” changed the game of basketball forever. KATE NASH: UNDERESTIMATE THE GIRL Dir. Amy Goldstein An unvarnished, behind-the-scenes look at the creative life and professional struggles of British singer-songwriter Kate Nash. LOVE, ANTOSHA Dir. Garret Price The sterling talents and mercurial spirit of the late actor Anton Yelchin are remembered by his closest friends and family in this joyful, bittersweet eulogy. MADE IN BOISE Dir. Beth Aala This deeply empathetic and eye-opening peek at the burgeoning business of surrogacy in Boise, Idaho follows four gestational surrogates and their intended parents. MAKING WAVES: THE ART OF CINEMATIC SOUND Dir. Midge Costin Meet the sound designers responsible for creating the cinematic soundtrack to some of your favorite films, while learning about their creative process and how they collaborate with renowned directors. MIKE WALLACE IS HERE Dir. Avi Belkin An unflinching look at the legendary reporter Mike Wallace, who interrogated the 20th century’s biggest figures during his 50 years on air and whose aggressive reporting style and showmanship redefined what Americans could expect from broadcasters. MYSTIFY: MICHAEL HUTCHENCE Dir. Richard Lowenstein A bold collage of electrifying performance footage and intimate home videos paint a tender, illuminative portrait of the iconic INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence. NOTHING FANCY: DIANA KENNEDY Dir. Elizabeth Carroll At 96, Diane Kennedy is a legendary chef and author, whose razor sharp intellect, fabulous taste, and cutting wit are beautifully captured in this homage to her lifelong quest to preserve Mexican cuisine. PIZZA, A LOVE STORY Dir. Gorman Bechard New Haven, Connecticut is home to three of America’s top ranked pizza restaurants, and they’re all located within a six block radius of each other. RAISE HELL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MOLLY IVINS Dir. Janice Engel Few journalists have left a legacy so profound and sharply funny as Texas’ Molly Ivins, whose acerbic insights into the political process are revived in this biography. RINGSIDE Dir. Andre Hormann In this emotional gut-punch of a boxing documentary, two young Chicago men fight to survive both professionally and personally. RUNNER Dir. Bill Gallagher Guor Marial’s difficult and triumphant journey from refugee to world-renowned athlete, told in intimate interviews with gorgeously animated flashbacks, as he strives for athletic greatness. THE CONDOR AND THE EAGLE Dir. Clement Guerra This epic journey connects four Indigenous leaders across North and South America as they seek to connect, empower their communities, and find solutions to combat environmental disasters. THE DOG DOC Dir. Cindy Meehl Called a maverick, a miracle-worker, and a quack, Dr. Marty Goldstein, a pioneer of integrative veterinary medicine, provides a last hope for pet owners with nothing left to lose by holistically treating animals after other vets have given up. THE STORY OF PLASTIC Dir. Deia Schlosberg As plastic pollution continues to be a world-wide problem that can’t be solved by recycling alone, scientists and activists challenge corporations pushing single-use plastic consumerism. TRIXIE MATTEL: MOVING PARTS Dir. Nicholas Zeig-Owens Trixie charmed audiences and judges as winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, but the grind of performing and the pressure of the title proves that heavy is the head that wears the tiara. International Documentaries CACHADA - THE OPPORTUNITY Dir. Marlén Viñayo Five women from El Salvador break through the cycle of generational abuse in this poignant exploration of the power of participatory, community theater. CHINA LOVE Dir. Olivia Martin McGuire Take a fantasy ride through contemporary China as we explore the billion-dollar pre-wedding photography industry. DIVE: RITUALS IN WATER Dir. Elín Hansdóttir, Anna Rún Tryggvadóttir, Hanna Björk Valsdóttir A visionary swimming coach encourages infants to swim underwater long before they can crawl, walk, or talk, Snorri Magnússon’s unconventional teachings provokes outrage, engenders parental trust, and leads to miracles underwater in this cinematic and engrossing profile. FLOAT Dir. Phil Kibbe An insider's look at the F1D World Championships for free flight model airplanes, whose balance is threatened when a newcomer joins the competition. FOR SAMA Dir. Waad Al-Khateab, Edward Watts A harrowing and unforgettable autobiographical portrait of a woman’s life over five years during the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as told to her infant daughter, Sama. HOPE FROZEN Dir. Pailin Wedel A Thai family cryopreserves their two-year-old daughter following her death from cancer — are they deluded or prescient in their attempt to escape fate? THE KINGMAKER Dir. Lauren Greenfield In Lauren Greenfield's searing new film on the implacable "Mother" of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos plots her family's grand return to power. KIFARU Dir. David Hambridge An intimate look at the extinction of the northern white rhino through the eyes of two Kenyan caretakers charged with protecting Sudan, the last remaining male. LOS REYES Dir. Iván Osnovikoff, Bettina Perut The lives of two stray dogs, Football and Chola, are captured over a period of two years as they make their home inside an urban skate park in this unconventional canine documentary. LOVE CHILD Dir. Eva Mulvad A poignant portrait of forbidden lovers, who escape to Turkey with their secret child; desperate to start a new life they find themselves stalled in bureaucratic limbo. MEETING GORBACHEV Dir. Werner Herzog, André Singer The life of Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and final President of the Soviet Union is carefully explored in Werner Herzog’s loving tribute to his old friend. MIDNIGHT FAMILY Dir. Luke Lorentzen Set in Mexico City, this propulsive nocturnal drama follows the Ochoa family who operate an independent for-profit emergency ambulance within the country’s shockingly underserved healthcare system. MOTHER Dir. Kristof Bilsen A deft exploration of the concepts of identity, memory, and what it means to be a mother through Pomm, a Thai caregiving who cares for other families, while supporting her own children from afar. MR. JIMMY Dir. Peter Michael Dowd Rock out to the music of the mercurial Japanese Jimmy Page impersonator and superfan, Akio Sakurai, who moves to California to join a Led Zeppelin tribute band. ONE CHILD NATION Dir. Nanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang After becoming a mother director Nanfu Wang explores the ripple effect of China’s devastating One Child Policy, uncovering shocking human rights violations as well as her own family’s complicity, and the liability of American adoptive families. OUR TIME MACHINE Dir. S. Leo Chiang, Yang Sun The Shanghai-based artist Maleonn races against time to stage an elaborate, magical, and moving autobiographical play for his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. RIGHT TO HARM Dir. Annie Speicher, Matt Wechsler An essential investigation into the impact of factory farming across the US, and what affected communities have courageously done in response. SEAHORSE Dir. Jeanie Finlay When a transgender man decides to carry his child himself, the pregnancy prompts an unexpected and profound reckoning with conventions of masculinity, self-definition, and biology. SHOOTING THE MAFIA Dir. Kim Longinotto Italian photographer Letizia Battaglia spends her career documenting the life and crimes of the Mafia with intimate details and stunning insight. VARDA BY AGNES Dir. Agnes Varda An unpredictable documentary from a fascinating storyteller, Agnès Varda’s final feature documentary sheds light on her experience as a director, bringing a personal insight to what she calls “cine-writing.” WHAT WE LEFT UNFINISHED Dir. Mariam Ghani The story of Communist-era Afghanistan and lives under fire, told through a recently uncovered treasure trove of five unfinished films, all based on real, unfiltered life. WHAT WILL BECOME OF US Dir. Steven Cantor Sir Frank Lowy, self-made billionaire and founder of Westfield Corporation, must decide if he should sell the company he’s built since 1953 or continue his life work. WILD HONEY Dir. Ava Porter, Farhad Akhmetov The harmonious universality of musical expression is explored in this rapturous ethnographic look at traditional folk music in five different regions of Russia. YOUR TURN Dir. Eliza Capai With kinetic energy and infectious empowerment, three young Brazilian activists fight for an education and affordable transportation, their experiences, passions, and fears immediate, relevant, and all-pervading. Southern Documentaries 17 BLOCKS Dir. Davy Rothbart Filmed over the course of 20 years, the tight-knit Sanfords live 17 blocks from the US Capitol. Struggling with addiction, poverty, and gun violence, an unexpected tragedy leads to a journey of love, loss, and acceptance. ERNIE & JOE: CRISIS COPS Dir. Jenifer McShane Two San Antonio police officers challenge long-held police practices for dealing with the mentally ill. GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH Dir. David Charles Rodrigues In response to a wave of discriminatory anti-LGBTQ laws and the divisive 2016 election, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus embarks on a tour of the American Deep South. GUEST HOUSE Dir. Hannah Dweck, Yael Luttwak Three women overcome their opioid addiction with the support of a re-entry house in this inspiring and hopeful portrait of human resilience. JADDOLAND Dir. Nadia Shihab A young filmmaker returns to her mother’s dazzling artistic haven in Lubbock, Texas to explore three generations of their Iraqi family in this intimate, reflective portrait. MEN & WOMEN OF DISTINCTION: GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE Dir. Kathryn TuckerFeaturing politics from a by-gone era, this profile of the incredible career and commendable public service of former Governor Mike Beebe charts one man’s efforts to create lasting change for Southern communities. MOSSVILLE: WHEN GREAT TREES FALL Dir. Alexander Glustrom The inhabitants of Mossville, once a thriving, historically black community, have all been uprooted due to contamination and pollution by petrochemical plants — except for one mighty man who refuses to relinquish his family’s land. PAHOKEE Dir. Patrick Bresnan, Ivete Lucas Four teens face heartbreak and celebrate in the rituals of an extraordinary senior year in a small agricultural town in the Florida Everglades, where hopes for the future are concentrated on the youth. QUALIFIED Dir. Jenna Ricker Inside the hallowed grounds of the Indianapolis 500, where the laps separate footnotes from legends, Janet Guthrie — the first woman to attempt Indy — had to do it with unprecedented scrutiny. SEADRIFT Dir. Tim Tsai A Gulf Coast community is haunted by racist tensions from 40 years ago, when a Vietnamese refugee shot and killed a white crab fisherman. STATE OF THE ART Dir Brent Renaud, Craig Renaud A journey of artistic discovery...100,000 miles, 1,000 destinations in search of 100 under-recognized American artists for one unforgettable exhibition - here are the stories of seven of the artists from the groundbreaking exhibit at Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas. WE BELIEVE IN DINOSAURS Dir. Clayton Brown, Monica Long Ross A charged conversation between evangelical creationists and scientific-leaning secularists unfolds as a massively scaled Noah’s Ark theme park is built in Williamstown, Kentucky. WELL GROOMED Dir. Rebecca Stern The creative and colorful world of competitive dog grooming is presented in this charming documentary that follows four champion groomers. |
AuthorMatthew Carey is a documentary filmmaker and journalist. His work has appeared on Deadline.com, CNN, CNN.com, TheWrap.com, NBCNews.com and in Documentary magazine. |