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A Brief History of Time
ERROL MORRIS IN PERSON! Rarely screened since its original release, A Brief History of Time examines the life and work of Stephen Hawking, the physicist who has spent much of his life in a wheelchair, yet managed feats of the intellect often compared to Einstein’s. In this adaptation of … More… -
ANPO: Art x War
ANPO refers to the US-Japan Mutual Security Treaty, which has justified the presence of 90 US military bases in Japan for six decades. The presence of the bases has spawned opposition and protests. Director Linda Hoaglund (who was born and raised in Japan) delves deeply into resistance against … More… -
Armadillo
Following western soldiers in Afghanistan, “Armadillo” (named for an army base) captures scenes of intense combat with a rare artistry. The film raises piercing questions over how recruits become warriors and how the war is being conducted. Director Janus Metz gains such close access to … More… -
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (presented in 3-D)
OPENING NIGHT GALA: Wed. Nov. 3, 2010 - 7pm (NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts). This $30 ticket includes the screening and a post-film conversation with Werner Herzog. THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT - There are other Herzog events at the festival including an In-Conversation and several … More… -
Cecil B. DeMille: American Epic
Kevin Brownlow explores the life one of the giants of Hollywood film history. Cecil B DeMille, tyrant, visionary, highly successful filmmaker – a character larger than life who produced unforgettable epics which helped forge Hollywood mythology. This two-hour documentary follows his entire … More… -
Darkness on the Edge of Town
IN PERSON: E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg & director Thom Zimny for post-show conversation. For one night, DOC NYC moves into the grand Ziegfeld Theater in midtown Manhattan to present the world premiere of an extraordinary concert film. Darkness on the Edge of Town captures a performance … More… -
The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan
During the Vietnam War McKinley Nolan mysteriously disappeared – rumored to be either a traitor, captive or American operative. Long haunted by his absence, his family from the cotton belt of Texas gets a tip he may still be alive and travels to Southeast Asia to seek closure. Director Henry … More… -
Discoveries of a Marionette
Norwegian director Bjarte Mørner Tveit draws upon a rich personal archive of 8 mm film left by his grandfather Alf, who was secretive about his experiences as a globe-trotting sailor. The exquisite use of family footage calls to mind the work of Doug Block and Alan Berliner. Examining the … More… -
Doc Convergence
To attend any “Doc Convergence” session, you must purchase an-all day pass ($100). Alternately, you can purchase a 2-day "panel combo" pass at a discount rate ($150) that gains you access to both "Doc Convergence" (Fri. Nov. 5) and “State of the Art” (Sat. Nov. 6). To purchase "panel … More… -
DOC NYU @ DOC NYC
STUDENTS: SHOW YOUR SCHOOL ID AT IFC CENTER BOX OFFICE AND GET INTO THIS SHOW FOR ONLY $5 New York University has an international reputation for the quality of its film programs. Discover the next generation of documentary talent in this showcase of standout films by students in the Kanbar … More… -
Double feature: I’m King Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper & The Tramp and the Dictator
This double feature reflects the range of Kevin Brownlow’s scope. In I’m King Kong!, he tracks the life of Merian C. Cooper, who pioneered documentary making with films such as Grass and Chang before creating his most famous work King Kong. In The Tramp & the Dictator, Brownlow looks … More… -
Double feature: I’m King Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper & The Tramp and the Dictator
This double feature reflects the range of Kevin Brownlow’s scope. In I’m King Kong!, he tracks the life of Merian C. Cooper, who pioneered documentary making with films such as Grass and Chang before creating his most famous work King Kong. In The Tramp & the Dictator, Brownlow looks … More… -
First Person
First Person was an exquisitely produced television series created by Errol Morris with unforgettable interview subjects. In a rare theatrical presentation, this screening showcases three of Morris’ favorite episodes the series: The Killer Inside Me, about a woman who falls in love with serial … More… -
Five Weddings and a Felony
Director Josh Freed turns a Flip camera on his own relationships for a contemporary and comic look at the travails of romance. As a boy, Josh’s philosophical nature led to an obsession with the film “My Dinner with Andre.” Now as a twentysomething, he attracts bright and accomplished … More… -
Garbo
Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird offer an informative yet intimate look at one of the most mysterious leading ladies in history, considered to this day the greatest film icon of all time. Following her first steps in Sweden where she forged her screen identity under the guidance of Mauritz … More… -
Gates of Heaven
Errol Morris’ debut film Gates of Heaven is an eccentric portrait of the American dream, focusing on two California pet cemeteries. One enterprise is set up by Floyd McClure at the intersection of two superhighways; the other is run by the Harbert family, who apply the latest marketing concepts … More… -
In Conversation with Errol Morris
“Part of what I love about documentary is this idea that you can reinvent the form every time you make one,” Errol Morris once said. This conversation will explore his reinventions, including the titles presented in this Spotlight section as well as films such as Fast, Cheap & Out of … More… -
In Conversation with Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog is one of the great storytellers of our time, not only in films such as Grizzly Man and Encounters at the End of the World, but in general conversation. Resisting categorization, he once said, “For me, the boundary between fiction and ‘documentary’ simply does not exist; … More… -
It Happened Here
It Happened Here supplies a re-write of history where Germany has won World War II and Nazi troops occupy England. The film is a terrifying intimation of what might have happened if the Allied effort had failed. Kevin Brownlow was only 18 when he and Andrew Mollo started this monumental documentary … More… -
Kati with an I
Over the course of three tumultuous days, Kati a teenage girl in Alabama has to confront big life choices over love, family and her future. As Kati’s half-brother, director Robert Greene gains an intimacy that makes viewers feel part of the family, reminiscent of last year’s award-winning … More… -
Land of Silence and Darkness
In the book Herzog on Herzog, the director says, “Land of Silence and Darkness is a film particularly close to my heart. If I had not have made it there would be a great gap in my existence.” The film follows Fini Straubinger, a fifty-six-year-old deaf and blind woman, who leads an inspiring … More… -
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
Famous for his roles as Quasimodo and the Phantom of the Opera, Lon Chaney was for a long time remembered simply as a horror star, but he was in fact Hollywood’s first character star. Using his skill with make-up, he created an extraordinary gallery of characters, from the mundane to the … More… -
Lost Bohemia
WINNER OF METROPOLIS SPECIAL JURY PRIZE For over a century, Carnegie Hall rented affordable studio apartments atop the famous music hall to artistic tenants such as Marlon Brando, Paddy Chayefsky and Isadora Duncan. As a privileged tenant, director Josef Birdman Astor began to videotape his … More… -
Lost Souls & Light Matter - A Conversation with Lena Herzog
Acclaimed photographer Lena Herzog presents slides from her recent work Lost Souls and previews her latest work Light Matter in a conversation with Pulitzer Prize winner David Turnley. Herzog’s portfolios have appeared in The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Harper’s among other publications. … More… -
Lost Souls & Light Matter - A Conversation with Lena Herzog
Acclaimed photographer Lena Herzog presents slides from her recent work Lost Souls and previews her latest work Light Matter in a conversation with Pulitzer Prize winner David Turnley. Herzog’s portfolios have appeared in The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Harper’s among other publications. … More… -
Make Believe
Winner of Grand Jury Prize at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Teen magicians from across the U.S. and other parts of the globe travel to Las Vegas to vie for the top prize in the World Magic Seminar. We follow six contestants as they develop their routines with countless hours of practice. … More… -
The Medium Formerly Known as Radio: The Evocative Power of Sound
The radio documentary is enjoying a golden age, on the broadcast airwaves—and newly reinvented on the Internet. Longtime public radio personality Dean Olsher, creator and host of The Next Big Thing on PRI (2000-2005), brings that popular show's spirit of discovery to this public listening … More… -
mindFLUX
The visionary theater director Richard Foreman has been an icon of New York’s avant garde for 40 years. Whether or not you’re familiar with his work, this portrait gives an accessible entry to understanding an important chapter of cultural history, packed with interviews including F. … More… -
Mother of Rock: Lillian Roxon
Before rock journalism was respectable, before feminism had gained ground, Lillian Roxon was trailblazing both as an Australian journalist transplanted to New York. She forecast the significance of musicians such as Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, and the Velvet Underground; and authored “Lillian … More… -
My Best Fiend
In this personal essay film, Werner Herzog reflects on his friendship with the tempestuous actor Klaus Kinski whose memorable collaborations with the director include Aguirre, Nosferatu, Woyzeck and Fitzcarraldo. “He was such an intense man,” said Herzog, “something that naturally frightens … More… -
Orphan Film Symposium on NYC
See a sampling of rediscovered short films and forgotten footage of NYC, as saved by archives, labs, researchers, and filmmakers participating in the NYU Orphan Film Project. Films from the biennial Orphan Film Symposium include: Fox Movietone newsreel outtakes from the 1920s, an amateur city … More… -
Pink Saris
Director Kim Longinotto has earned acclaim and a recent MoMA retrospective for her globe-spanning films about women fighting odds such as “Divorce Iranian Style” and “Rough Aunties.” In her latest “Pink Saris,” Longinotto travels to Uddar Pradesh in northern India to follow the … More… -
Puppet
PUPPET interweaves a broad look at the fraught history of American puppetry (its marginalization as children's theater and its sudden explosion as high art) with an intimate thread following Dan Hurlin, a downtown artist who is creating a complex puppet work called “Disfarmer” based on … More… -
Ride, Rise, Roar
RIDE, RISE, ROAR is a David Byrne concert film that blends riveting onstage performances with intimate details of the creative collaborations. Shot with multiple cameras over several concerts during the 08/09 tour, the film blends the energy and charisma of classic Talking Heads with the heartfelt … More… -
The Road to Carnegie Hall
Young musicians from the world over are plucked from obscurity when they win online auditions for a prestigious Carnegie Hall concert. With only two days to rehearse a complicated program under classical masters Michael Tilson Thomas and Tan Dun, the musicians face language barriers, jet … More… -
State of the Art
To attend any “State of the Art” session, you must purchase an-all day pass ($100). Alternately, you can purchase a 2-day "panel combo" pass at a discount rate ($150) that gains you access to both "State of the Art" (Sat. Nov. 6) and “Doc Convergence” (Fri. Nov. 5). To purchase … More… -
State of the Industry (FREE PANEL)
At DOC NYC, the programming places an emphasis on the creative side of doc making rather than the business. This event is an exception. The session will be divided into two parts, hearing first from filmmakers, then from industry figures as they look back on 2010 and describe what gives them … More… -
Tabloid
GALA: Sun. Nov. 7, 2010 - 7pm (NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts) “Tabloid is a return to my favorite genre,” writes Errol Morris. “Sick, sad and funny, but, of course, it’s more than that. It is a meditation on how we are shaped by the media and even more powerfully, … More… -
The Thin Blue Line
The Thin Blue Line is the fascinating, controversial true story of the arrest and conviction of Randall Adams for the murder of a Dallas policeman in 1976. Billed as “the first movie mystery to actually solve a murder,” the film is credited with overturning the conviction of Randall Dale … More… -
To Be Heard
WINNER OF METROPOLIS JURY PRIZE AND DOC NYC AUDIENCE AWARD Karina, Pearl and Anthony are three New York teenagers in a radical poetry workshop called Power Writing that has a profound affect on their lives. Putting pen to paper they’re able to imagine a future where fathers aren’t in jail, … More… -
Turtle: The Incredible Journey (presented in 3D)
Presented in 3-D, this gorgeously photographed journey through the ocean world follows the life of a loggerhead turtle, starting as a baby on a Florida beach and migrating from the Sargasso Sea to the Gulf Stream to the shores of Africa and back to Florida to lay its eggs. Narrated by Miranda … More… -
U2 3D
"U2 3D" is a unique cinematic experience that puts viewers within the pulsating energy of a stadium concert given by the world's most popular band. Marrying innovative digital 3D imagery and 5.1 Surround Sound with the excitement of a live U2 concert - shot at four South American stadium … More… -
Windfall
WINNER OF VIEWFINDERS JURY PRIZE In this revealing look at wind energy, residents of Meredith, NY are divided when companies want to build wind turbines in the traditional dairy farm community. Laura Israel makes her directorial debut after years of film editing for individualists such as … More… -
Wings of Hope
In 1971, a plane came apart over the Peruvian jungle close to where Werner Herzog was filming Aguirre, the Wrath of God. The only survivor from nearly 100 passengers was Juliane Kopcke, a 17-year-old German girl, who escaped from the jungle after the search was called off. Years later, Herzog … More… -
Winstanley
In 17th century England, in the wake of Oliver Cromwell’s civil war, Gerard Winstanley led the Diggers to form a commune and till the soil on “common land.” Based on Winstanley’s writings (which also inspired Marx), Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo set out to make an absolutely authentic … More… -
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture
On the occasion of DOC NYC, D.A. Pennebaker reflects on filming Bowie and the Spiders from Mars: “I was on Mars myself when I got Bowie's request that we film a concert at Hammersmith Hall in London. Getting from a raft on the Mississippi River headed for New Orleans to London required … More…
Special events span photography, radio, archival footage of NYC, classical music and a world premiere of a Bruce Springsteen concert.
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
IN PERSON: E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg & director Thom Zimny for post-show conversation. For one night, DOC NYC moves into the grand Ziegfeld Theater in midtown Manhattan to present the world premiere of an extraordinary concert film. Darkness on the Edge of Town captures a performance … More… -
DOC NYU @ DOC NYC
STUDENTS: SHOW YOUR SCHOOL ID AT IFC CENTER BOX OFFICE AND GET INTO THIS SHOW FOR ONLY $5 New York University has an international reputation for the quality of its film programs. Discover the next generation of documentary talent in this showcase of standout films by students in the Kanbar … More… -
Lost Souls & Light Matter - A Conversation with Lena Herzog
Acclaimed photographer Lena Herzog presents slides from her recent work Lost Souls and previews her latest work Light Matter in a conversation with Pulitzer Prize winner David Turnley. Herzog’s portfolios have appeared in The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Harper’s among other publications. … More… -
Lost Souls & Light Matter - A Conversation with Lena Herzog
Acclaimed photographer Lena Herzog presents slides from her recent work Lost Souls and previews her latest work Light Matter in a conversation with Pulitzer Prize winner David Turnley. Herzog’s portfolios have appeared in The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Harper’s among other publications. … More… -
The Medium Formerly Known as Radio: The Evocative Power of Sound
The radio documentary is enjoying a golden age, on the broadcast airwaves—and newly reinvented on the Internet. Longtime public radio personality Dean Olsher, creator and host of The Next Big Thing on PRI (2000-2005), brings that popular show's spirit of discovery to this public listening … More… -
Orphan Film Symposium on NYC
See a sampling of rediscovered short films and forgotten footage of NYC, as saved by archives, labs, researchers, and filmmakers participating in the NYU Orphan Film Project. Films from the biennial Orphan Film Symposium include: Fox Movietone newsreel outtakes from the 1920s, an amateur city … More… -
The Road to Carnegie Hall
Young musicians from the world over are plucked from obscurity when they win online auditions for a prestigious Carnegie Hall concert. With only two days to rehearse a complicated program under classical masters Michael Tilson Thomas and Tan Dun, the musicians face language barriers, jet … More… -
State of the Industry (FREE PANEL)
At DOC NYC, the programming places an emphasis on the creative side of doc making rather than the business. This event is an exception. The session will be divided into two parts, hearing first from filmmakers, then from industry figures as they look back on 2010 and describe what gives them … More…
Our showcase events for this, our inaugural edition of DOC NYC, perfectly establish the tone, aesthetic, and level of artistry in the documentary form that that we hope our festival will salute each year. We look forward to joining with New York audiences in celebrating brand new works from Werner Herzog and Errol Morris, and presenting several Tribute events to the legendary Kevin Brownlow, only days before he will receive his honorary Oscar for an essential career in film.
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Cave of Forgotten Dreams (presented in 3-D)
OPENING NIGHT GALA: Wed. Nov. 3, 2010 - 7pm (NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts). This $30 ticket includes the screening and a post-film conversation with Werner Herzog. THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT - There are other Herzog events at the festival including an In-Conversation and several … More… -
Tabloid
GALA: Sun. Nov. 7, 2010 - 7pm (NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts) “Tabloid is a return to my favorite genre,” writes Errol Morris. “Sick, sad and funny, but, of course, it’s more than that. It is a meditation on how we are shaped by the media and even more powerfully, … More…
In conjunction with DOC NYC’s gala screenings of the newest films from Werner Herzog and Errol Morris, the festival will present a selection of each director’s past documentaries, along with In Conversation events with Herzog and with Morris.
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A Brief History of Time
ERROL MORRIS IN PERSON! Rarely screened since its original release, A Brief History of Time examines the life and work of Stephen Hawking, the physicist who has spent much of his life in a wheelchair, yet managed feats of the intellect often compared to Einstein’s. In this adaptation of … More… -
First Person
First Person was an exquisitely produced television series created by Errol Morris with unforgettable interview subjects. In a rare theatrical presentation, this screening showcases three of Morris’ favorite episodes the series: The Killer Inside Me, about a woman who falls in love with serial … More… -
Gates of Heaven
Errol Morris’ debut film Gates of Heaven is an eccentric portrait of the American dream, focusing on two California pet cemeteries. One enterprise is set up by Floyd McClure at the intersection of two superhighways; the other is run by the Harbert family, who apply the latest marketing concepts … More… -
In Conversation with Errol Morris
“Part of what I love about documentary is this idea that you can reinvent the form every time you make one,” Errol Morris once said. This conversation will explore his reinventions, including the titles presented in this Spotlight section as well as films such as Fast, Cheap & Out of … More… -
In Conversation with Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog is one of the great storytellers of our time, not only in films such as Grizzly Man and Encounters at the End of the World, but in general conversation. Resisting categorization, he once said, “For me, the boundary between fiction and ‘documentary’ simply does not exist; … More… -
Land of Silence and Darkness
In the book Herzog on Herzog, the director says, “Land of Silence and Darkness is a film particularly close to my heart. If I had not have made it there would be a great gap in my existence.” The film follows Fini Straubinger, a fifty-six-year-old deaf and blind woman, who leads an inspiring … More… -
My Best Fiend
In this personal essay film, Werner Herzog reflects on his friendship with the tempestuous actor Klaus Kinski whose memorable collaborations with the director include Aguirre, Nosferatu, Woyzeck and Fitzcarraldo. “He was such an intense man,” said Herzog, “something that naturally frightens … More… -
Tabloid
GALA: Sun. Nov. 7, 2010 - 7pm (NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts) “Tabloid is a return to my favorite genre,” writes Errol Morris. “Sick, sad and funny, but, of course, it’s more than that. It is a meditation on how we are shaped by the media and even more powerfully, … More… -
The Thin Blue Line
The Thin Blue Line is the fascinating, controversial true story of the arrest and conviction of Randall Adams for the murder of a Dallas policeman in 1976. Billed as “the first movie mystery to actually solve a murder,” the film is credited with overturning the conviction of Randall Dale … More… -
Wings of Hope
In 1971, a plane came apart over the Peruvian jungle close to where Werner Herzog was filming Aguirre, the Wrath of God. The only survivor from nearly 100 passengers was Juliane Kopcke, a 17-year-old German girl, who escaped from the jungle after the search was called off. Years later, Herzog … More…
The Viewfinders competition section celebrates both established and emerging filmmakers who bring a distinct directorial voice to their work. The selection takes us to Afghanistan in Armadillo, Vietnam in The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan, rural India in Pink Saris, Japan in ANPO: Art x War, ocean voyages in Discoveries of a Marionette, and upstate New York in Windfall. We follow a teenage girl facing high school graduation in Kati with an I and a young man facing life choices in Five Weddings and a Felony. These eight films range in style from observational to essayistic; and in mood from suspenseful to humorous for a spectrum of contemporary documentary trends. The jury is tasked to honor one film that appeals most strongly to their sensibilities as an outstanding achievement in both form and content. We hope this selection will surprise, inspire and spark debate.
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ANPO: Art x War
ANPO refers to the US-Japan Mutual Security Treaty, which has justified the presence of 90 US military bases in Japan for six decades. The presence of the bases has spawned opposition and protests. Director Linda Hoaglund (who was born and raised in Japan) delves deeply into resistance against … More… -
Armadillo
Following western soldiers in Afghanistan, “Armadillo” (named for an army base) captures scenes of intense combat with a rare artistry. The film raises piercing questions over how recruits become warriors and how the war is being conducted. Director Janus Metz gains such close access to … More… -
The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan
During the Vietnam War McKinley Nolan mysteriously disappeared – rumored to be either a traitor, captive or American operative. Long haunted by his absence, his family from the cotton belt of Texas gets a tip he may still be alive and travels to Southeast Asia to seek closure. Director Henry … More… -
Discoveries of a Marionette
Norwegian director Bjarte Mørner Tveit draws upon a rich personal archive of 8 mm film left by his grandfather Alf, who was secretive about his experiences as a globe-trotting sailor. The exquisite use of family footage calls to mind the work of Doug Block and Alan Berliner. Examining the … More… -
Five Weddings and a Felony
Director Josh Freed turns a Flip camera on his own relationships for a contemporary and comic look at the travails of romance. As a boy, Josh’s philosophical nature led to an obsession with the film “My Dinner with Andre.” Now as a twentysomething, he attracts bright and accomplished … More… -
Kati with an I
Over the course of three tumultuous days, Kati a teenage girl in Alabama has to confront big life choices over love, family and her future. As Kati’s half-brother, director Robert Greene gains an intimacy that makes viewers feel part of the family, reminiscent of last year’s award-winning … More… -
Pink Saris
Director Kim Longinotto has earned acclaim and a recent MoMA retrospective for her globe-spanning films about women fighting odds such as “Divorce Iranian Style” and “Rough Aunties.” In her latest “Pink Saris,” Longinotto travels to Uddar Pradesh in northern India to follow the … More… -
Windfall
WINNER OF VIEWFINDERS JURY PRIZE In this revealing look at wind energy, residents of Meredith, NY are divided when companies want to build wind turbines in the traditional dairy farm community. Laura Israel makes her directorial debut after years of film editing for individualists such as … More…
DOC NYC will host two all-day conferences: Doc Convergence (Nov. 5) will hold panels about how documentary film intersects with photography, writing, performance and radio; and State of the Art (Nov. 6) will gather documentary film directors, cinematographers, editors and others for dialogues on their crafts.
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Doc Convergence
To attend any “Doc Convergence” session, you must purchase an-all day pass ($100). Alternately, you can purchase a 2-day "panel combo" pass at a discount rate ($150) that gains you access to both "Doc Convergence" (Fri. Nov. 5) and “State of the Art” (Sat. Nov. 6). To purchase "panel … More… -
State of the Art
To attend any “State of the Art” session, you must purchase an-all day pass ($100). Alternately, you can purchase a 2-day "panel combo" pass at a discount rate ($150) that gains you access to both "State of the Art" (Sat. Nov. 6) and “Doc Convergence” (Fri. Nov. 5). To purchase … More…
DOC NYC celebrates filmmaker and historian Kevin Brownlow on the eve of his honorary Oscar. In person - Nov. 8 & 9!
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Cecil B. DeMille: American Epic
Kevin Brownlow explores the life one of the giants of Hollywood film history. Cecil B DeMille, tyrant, visionary, highly successful filmmaker – a character larger than life who produced unforgettable epics which helped forge Hollywood mythology. This two-hour documentary follows his entire … More… -
Double feature: I’m King Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper & The Tramp and the Dictator
This double feature reflects the range of Kevin Brownlow’s scope. In I’m King Kong!, he tracks the life of Merian C. Cooper, who pioneered documentary making with films such as Grass and Chang before creating his most famous work King Kong. In The Tramp & the Dictator, Brownlow looks … More… -
Double feature: I’m King Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper & The Tramp and the Dictator
This double feature reflects the range of Kevin Brownlow’s scope. In I’m King Kong!, he tracks the life of Merian C. Cooper, who pioneered documentary making with films such as Grass and Chang before creating his most famous work King Kong. In The Tramp & the Dictator, Brownlow looks … More… -
Garbo
Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird offer an informative yet intimate look at one of the most mysterious leading ladies in history, considered to this day the greatest film icon of all time. Following her first steps in Sweden where she forged her screen identity under the guidance of Mauritz … More… -
It Happened Here
It Happened Here supplies a re-write of history where Germany has won World War II and Nazi troops occupy England. The film is a terrifying intimation of what might have happened if the Allied effort had failed. Kevin Brownlow was only 18 when he and Andrew Mollo started this monumental documentary … More… -
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
Famous for his roles as Quasimodo and the Phantom of the Opera, Lon Chaney was for a long time remembered simply as a horror star, but he was in fact Hollywood’s first character star. Using his skill with make-up, he created an extraordinary gallery of characters, from the mundane to the … More… -
Winstanley
In 17th century England, in the wake of Oliver Cromwell’s civil war, Gerard Winstanley led the Diggers to form a commune and till the soil on “common land.” Based on Winstanley’s writings (which also inspired Marx), Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo set out to make an absolutely authentic … More…
There are 8 million stories in the naked city. This section showcases six of them. The appeal of these films radiates far beyond their backdrop of New York City. The subjects include the passing of an era in “Lost Bohemia,” the emergence of young talent in “To Be Heard,” the life of a writer in “Mother of Rock: Lilian Roxon,” the life of a play in “Puppet,” the theater director Richard Foreman in “mindFLUX,” and the musician David Byrne in “Ride, Rise, Roar.” Each film individually exhibits a high degree of artistry. Watching several or all, viewers will experience a rich tour of innovators, subcultures, and inner circles. The jury will honor one film that stands out to them as exemplary not just for New Yorkers, but audiences far and wide. We urge you to join the jury in watching all six films to remind yourself what makes NYC such a transformative place.
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Lost Bohemia
WINNER OF METROPOLIS SPECIAL JURY PRIZE For over a century, Carnegie Hall rented affordable studio apartments atop the famous music hall to artistic tenants such as Marlon Brando, Paddy Chayefsky and Isadora Duncan. As a privileged tenant, director Josef Birdman Astor began to videotape his … More… -
mindFLUX
The visionary theater director Richard Foreman has been an icon of New York’s avant garde for 40 years. Whether or not you’re familiar with his work, this portrait gives an accessible entry to understanding an important chapter of cultural history, packed with interviews including F. … More… -
Mother of Rock: Lillian Roxon
Before rock journalism was respectable, before feminism had gained ground, Lillian Roxon was trailblazing both as an Australian journalist transplanted to New York. She forecast the significance of musicians such as Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, and the Velvet Underground; and authored “Lillian … More… -
Puppet
PUPPET interweaves a broad look at the fraught history of American puppetry (its marginalization as children's theater and its sudden explosion as high art) with an intimate thread following Dan Hurlin, a downtown artist who is creating a complex puppet work called “Disfarmer” based on … More… -
Ride, Rise, Roar
RIDE, RISE, ROAR is a David Byrne concert film that blends riveting onstage performances with intimate details of the creative collaborations. Shot with multiple cameras over several concerts during the 08/09 tour, the film blends the energy and charisma of classic Talking Heads with the heartfelt … More… -
To Be Heard
WINNER OF METROPOLIS JURY PRIZE AND DOC NYC AUDIENCE AWARD Karina, Pearl and Anthony are three New York teenagers in a radical poetry workshop called Power Writing that has a profound affect on their lives. Putting pen to paper they’re able to imagine a future where fathers aren’t in jail, … More…
Join us for our Midnight Rock Docs! Fri. Nov. 5 is U2 3D; Sat. Nov. 6 is ZIGGY STARDUST - experiences not to be missed!
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U2 3D
"U2 3D" is a unique cinematic experience that puts viewers within the pulsating energy of a stadium concert given by the world's most popular band. Marrying innovative digital 3D imagery and 5.1 Surround Sound with the excitement of a live U2 concert - shot at four South American stadium … More… -
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture
On the occasion of DOC NYC, D.A. Pennebaker reflects on filming Bowie and the Spiders from Mars: “I was on Mars myself when I got Bowie's request that we film a concert at Hammersmith Hall in London. Getting from a raft on the Mississippi River headed for New Orleans to London required … More…
The “Kaleidoscope” section offers family matinees on the weekend of Nov 6-7 featuring films suitable for viewers young and old.
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Make Believe
Winner of Grand Jury Prize at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Teen magicians from across the U.S. and other parts of the globe travel to Las Vegas to vie for the top prize in the World Magic Seminar. We follow six contestants as they develop their routines with countless hours of practice. … More… -
Turtle: The Incredible Journey (presented in 3D)
Presented in 3-D, this gorgeously photographed journey through the ocean world follows the life of a loggerhead turtle, starting as a baby on a Florida beach and migrating from the Sargasso Sea to the Gulf Stream to the shores of Africa and back to Florida to lay its eggs. Narrated by Miranda … More…