80 years ago, Xia Shuqin witnessed the murder of her family during the Nanjing Massacre. The Girl and the Picture uncovers how an American missionary’s camera serendipitously captured Xia and her sister, binding his family and theirs forever. Courtesy of USC Shoah Foundation/Cause & Affect Media
NYC PREMIERE America’s mountain and rural populace has long been an easy target for ridicule. Stereotyped in the media as lazy and ignorant, and dismissed by politicians as backwards, they’re considered the lowest rung of American society. Directors Rubin and York return to York’s hometown in the Appalachian hills to give voice to the thoughts […]
NYC PREMIERE Did you know Santa Claus keeps a summer home? Established in the late 1940s, upstate New York’s Santa’s Workshop is one of America’s original theme parks, with singing elves, talking trees and secret workshops. This whimsical and nostalgic film documents the park’s idealistic genesis to current-day economic challenges, including a con man who […]
WORLD PREMIERE You Can’t Do That on Television, Clarissa Explains It All, Double Dare, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Doug, Rugrats… If you recognize any of these titles, you probably grew up watching Nickelodeon, the cable-television network devoted to kids that launched almost 40 years ago. Beginning as a small local channel, visionary leadership […]
For six decades, Quincy Jones has made lasting musical contributions across genres from jazz and soundtracks to pop and hip hop. This intimate portrait by the filmmaking duo of Rashida Jones (his multitalented daughter) and Alan Hicks (Keep On Keepin’ On) follows the now 85-year-old producer over three years on the road. He shares reflections […]
This vital portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg traces her history from trailblazing ACLU lawyer to becoming an outspoken, dissenting liberal voice on the conservative-leaning Supreme Court. The film also portrays a moving love story between Ruth and her husband, Martin Ginsburg. He was far ahead of his time in supporting his wife’s career. As the […]
As reproductive rights grow more embattled, award-winning filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern (Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, The Devil Came on Horseback) trace the legacy of the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision. One surprising revelation is how much abortion rights were supported by Republicans in the 1960s. The film “reminds us […]
US PREMIERE During the late 1960s and early 70s, London’s Trojan Records label became one of the most influential record companies in history. By tapping into Jamaican migration to England, the label became a force in spreading ska, rocksteady and reggae. Rich interviews with colorful characters reveal the stories behind beloved songs such as “Rudy, […]
WORLD PREMIERE Born to a family of celebrated fashion photographers, and with a terminal disease that gave him a fearless approach to life and art, Davide Sorrenti took 1990s New York City by storm. Possessed of natural talent and tuned in to youth culture, he landed magazine spreads in Interview while still a teen. As […]
This program presents two films appearing in our Short List: Shorts section recognizing some of the top documentary shorts films of the year. SIDELINED DIR: Galen Summer In 1978, inspired by the popularity of NFL cheerleaders, Playboy organized a pictorial feature approved by team management happy for the media exposure. But when the resulting pictures […]