October 2024
Alexis Bloom’s “The Bibi Files,” Raoul Peck’s “Ernest Cole: Lost and Found” and Johan Grimonprez’s “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” are among the 15 documentary films that have received a coveted spot on DOC NYC’s feature shortlist. Launched in 2012, the DOC NYC feature shortlist, which this year includes several streamer-backed docs as well as… Continue reading DOC NYC Announces Oscar Predictor Feature Shortlist That Includes ‘The Bibi Files,’ ‘Will & Harper’ and ‘No Other Land’
Alexis Bloom’s “The Bibi Files,” Raoul Peck’s “Ernest Cole: Lost and Found” and Johan Grimonprez’s “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” are among the 15 documentary films that have received a coveted spot on DOC NYC’s feature shortlist.
Launched in 2012, the DOC NYC feature shortlist, which this year includes several streamer-backed docs as well as films with minimal or no distribution, has become known for being an award season bellwether. The last three feature docus that garnered an Oscar — “20 Days in Mariupol”, “Navalny” and “Summer of Soul” — made the DOC NYC shortlist.
In all the DOC NYC film festival has screened 53 of the last 60 Oscar-nominated documentary features. The feature shortlist election process is overseen by fest’s artistic director Jaie Laplante and director of special projects Thom Powers, who also serves as the lead documentary programmer at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival.
“We start thinking about the DOC NYC shortlist right after Sundance, and spend the ensuing months having many conversations with filmmakers, critics, industry leaders and Academy members to keep our ear to the ground about how people are thinking about the year’s top films,” said Laplante. “We then couple that with our own intuition and taste and ruminate through these multitude of layers to make our final choices.”
This year, the DOC NYC feature short list includes four Netflix backed titles: “Daughters,” “Mountain Queen,” “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” and “Will and Harper.” Other streamer’s with docs on the list are Amazon’s “Frida,” Nat Geo’s “Sugarcane” and MTV Film’s “Black Box Diaries.”
The eight remaining documentaries on the shortlist either have no distribution or limited distribution deals. Those films include “Union,” “Porcelain Wars” and “No Other Land,” which is a favorite among Academy doc branch members. In addition to distribution struggles, the same eight docus are also not equipped with massive award season campaign budgets.
But lacking deep pockets leading up to this year’s Academy nominations might not be as catastrophic as it once was. Notably, all filmmakers nominated for an Oscar in the feature doc category last year were international and the majority lacked distribution by major streamers; presumed favorites backed by Netflix, Apple TV+ and Max all failed to score a slot on the final Oscar ballot.
Filmmakers with docus that didn’t make the 2024 DOC NYC shortlist but are still vying for Oscar consideration — i.e. Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui (“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”), Dawn Porter (“Luther: Never Too Much”) and Errol Morris (“Separated”) — can pay to attend DOC NYC’s 11th annual Visionaries Tribute gala on Nov. 13. And more than likely, via their respective distribution companies, they will purchase the pricey ticket in order to be at the event that attracts the who’s who of the doc community from both coasts. Hundreds of documentary filmmakers, cinematographers, producers, editors, publicists and distributors hobnob with Academy doc branch members — for several hours — in hopes of winning their votes.
Documentary filmmaker Alan Berliner, Firelight Media president and co-founder Marcia Smith, director Lucy Walker and CEO of Chicken & Egg Pictures Jenni Wolfson will all be honored during the Tribute gala.
In addition to the feature shortlist, fest organizers also announced the annual DOC NYC short doc shortlist and Winner’s Circle, which highlights films that arrive at the festival with significant awards pedigrees already in place. All films on both shortlists and in the Winner’s Circle will have theatrical screenings at the fest, often with the directors in person.
The 15th annual DOC NYC film festival boasts 111 features, including 32 world premieres and 129 short films. The fest runs in-person Nov. 13-21 at IFC Center, SVA Theatre, and Village East by Angelika and continues online through Dec. 1 with films available to viewers across the U.S.
See below for the complete DOC NYC feature and short shortlists as well as the Winner’s Circle below.
SHORT LIST: FEATURES
THE BIBI FILES (World Premiere)
Director: Alexis Bloom
Producers: Alexis Bloom, Alex Gibney, Raviv Drucker, Kara Elverson, David Rahtz
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went to court trying to block this film that reveals
leaked video of his testimonies on corruption charges.
BLACK BOX DIARIES
Director: Shiori Ito
Producers: Shiori Ito, Hanna Aqvilin, Eric Nyari
A journalist upends Japan’s entrenched codes of silence when she brings sexual assault
charges against a well-connected member of the Japanese media elite. (MTV Documentary
Films)
DAHOMEY
Director: Mati Diop
Producers: Mati Diop, Judith Lou Lévy, Eve Robin
The restitution of priceless artifacts, looted by the French, to their origins in Benin provides an
occasion for momentous impact and debate. (MUBI)
DAUGHTERS
Directors: Natalie Rae, Angela Patton
Producers: Lisa Mazzotta, Natalie Rae, Justin Benoliel, James Cunningham, Mindy
Goldberg, Sam Bisbee, Kathryn Everett, Laura Choi Raycroft
Young girls whose fathers are incarcerated join in a one-day dad/daughter dance inside prison,
with deep emotional consequences on each side. (Netflix)
ERNEST COLE: LOST AND FOUND (NYC Premiere)
Director: Raoul Peck
Producers: Tamara Rosenberg, Raoul Peck
In this rousing, elegant documentary, Raoul Peck examines the life and works of a seminal artist
of the 20th century, South African photographer Ernest Cole. (Magnolia Pictures)
FRIDA
Director: Carla Gutiérrez
Producers: Katia Maguire, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Loren Hammonds, Alexandra
Johnes
Mixing lyrical animation of her influential works and expressive voice-over, Frida is a definitive
film about the iconic twentieth-century Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. (Amazon/MGM Studios)
MOUNTAIN QUEEN: THE SUMMITS OF LHAKPA SHERPA
Director: Lucy Walker
Producers: Charlie Corwin, Michael D. Ratner, Miranda Sherman, Dalia Burde,
Christopher Newman
Lhakpa Sherpa is the first Nepali woman to summit and descend Mount Everest, but how she
navigates her life as a single mother and immigrant is an even more heroic tale. (Netflix)
NO OTHER LAND
Directors: Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor
Producers: Fabien Greenberg, Bård Kjøge Rønning
One of the most urgent films of the year and winner of multiple festival prizes, No Other Land
offers an essential and unflinching look at Palestinian life under Israeli military occupation.
PORCELAIN WAR
Directors: Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev
Producers: Aniela Sidorska, Paula DuPré Pesmen, Camilla Mazzaferro, Olivia Ahnemann
Three Ukrainian artists pick up arms when Russia invades their country, but refuse to put down
their drive to create. (Picturehouse)
THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN
Director: Benjamin Ree
Producer: Ingvil Giske
Inside a sophisticated online game, a young man suffering from a degenerative muscular
disease creates a world where he can live, love, strive, and hope, to the greatest extent his soul
can muster. (Netflix)
QUEENDOM
Director/Producer: Agniia Galdanova
Producer: Igor Myakotin
A genderqueer Russian artist/activist faces harassment and hostility in Putin’s Russia, but it is
the universal ache of being cut off from one’s roots that proves to be her greatest existential
threat. (Greenwich Entertainment)
SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT
Director: Johan Grimonprez
Producer: Rémi Grellety, Daan Milius
In a magnificent essay film, Johan Grimonprez explores the historical rollercoaster of Congo
after its independence from colonial control, told through accounts from spies, mercenaries and
jazz icons. (Kino Lorber)
SUGARCANE*
Directors: Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie
Producers: Emily Kassie, Kellen Quinn
An investigation into the history of abuse and missing indigenous children at a Canadian
residential school ignites a present-day reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve. (National
Geographic Documentary Films)
UNION
Director: Brett Story, Stephen Maing
Producers: Brett Story, Stephen Maing, Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone, Martin Dicicco
Against incredible odds and immense opposition, current and former Amazon workers form a
labor union and petition the corporate behemoth for more dignified treatment of warehouse
workers.
WILL & HARPER
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Producers: Rafael Marmor, Will Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum, Josh Greenbaum, Christopher
Leggett
Former Saturday Night Live writer Harper Steele comes out as a woman and takes a road trip
across the United States with her old friend Will Ferrell to explore transgender experience.
(Netflix)
SHORT LIST: SHORTS
ALL THINGS METAL
Director: Motoki Otsuka
Producer: Lucy Sexton
Three brothers are united by their love of metal work, heavy metal rock, and movie-making.
(Rolling Stone Films)
DENIAL
Directors: Paul Moakley, Daniel Lombroso
Producer: Paul Moakley
Zoom in on Maricopa Country, Arizona, in 2020, where contested results of the Presidential election sow chaos, confusion and threats against the official overseeing the vote. (The New Yorker)
ETERNAL FATHER
Director: Ömer Sami
Producer: Alma Dyekjær Giese
One father deals with his mortality fears by stating his wish to be cryogenically frozen upon his
death, leaving his family to contemplate what this means for them when the time comes. (The
New Yorker)
GOODBYE, MORGANZA
Director: Devon Blackwell
Producer: Daniel Lombroso
In this shadow of a long-ago betrayal, Devon Blackwell documents her family’s history and the
property stolen from her great-grandmother. (The New Yorker)
I AM READY, WARDEN
Director: Smriti Mundhra
Producers: Keri Blakinger, Maya Gnyp, Keri Blakinger, Nina Anand Aujla, Smriti Mundhra
Sentenced to death, prisoner John Henry Ramirez spends his final days preparing a message
for his victim’s son while saying goodbye to his own boy. (MTV Documentary Films)
INCIDENT
Director/Producer: Bill Morrison
Producer: Jamie Kalven
Filmmaker Bill Morrison reconstructs a Chicago police shooting of an unarmed Black man,
dissecting what some consider an accident and others a murder. (The New Yorker)
INSTRUMENTS OF A BEATING HEART
Director: Ema Ryan Yamazaki
Producer: Eric Nyari
In an annual musical performance for first graders, a young girl faces her fears with
determination and becomes one of the lead percussionists. (The New York Times Op-Docs)
JULIA’S STEPPING STONES
Directors: Julia Reichert, Steve Bognar, Jim Klein
Producer: Steve Bognar
Before her death, activist/director Julia Reichert began filming her life story. Her partner, Steve
Bognar, finishes the decorated filmmaker’s work, sharing it with the world. (Netflix)
MOTORCYCLE MARY
Director: Haley Watson
Producer: Rachel Greenwald
Meet Mary McGee, a decorated and courageous racer who shattered the glass ceiling for
women in motorsports. (ESPN)
THE ONLY GIRL IN THE ORCHESTRA
Director/Producer: Molly O’Brien
Producer: Molly Lisa Remington
The spotlight shines on double bass player Orin O’Brien, the first woman to join the New York
Philharmonic, in this brilliant film for classical music fans. (Netflix)
THE QUILTERS
Director/Producer: Jenifer McShane
Tasked with creating quilts for foster children in Missouri, the men in a maximum security facility
stitch the dreams of future generations.
SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR
Directors/Producer: Kimberly Reed
Banned from the Montana House of Representatives, Rep. Zooey Zephyr makes the bench
outside the house her new “seat” as she fights for the rights of trans people in the state. (The
New Yorker)
A SWIM LESSON
Directors: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack
Producers: Nicole Emanuele, Emily Arlook
A symphony of toddlers’ laughter, cries, and splashes can be heard in the backyard of Bill, an
instructor committed to teaching little kids how to swim. (POV)
THE TURNAROUND
Directors: Kyle Thrash, Ben Proudfoot
Producers: Ben Proudfoot, Nicholas Ruff, Josh Rosenberg
After a superstar trade turned into a rough start with the Philadelphia Phillies, one devoted fan
inspires others to turn their boos into cheers in hopes of changing the trajectory of the player’s
season. (Netflix)
UNTIL HE’S BACK
Director/Producer: Jacqueline Baylon
As European countries ignore the refugee crisis on their shores, Faisal Bouhafs helps one
Moroccan family repatriate their child after his unsuccessful journey across the Mediterranean.
(POV)
WINNER’S CIRCLE
HOLLYWOODGATE
Director: Ibrahim Nash’at
Producers: Talal Derki, Shane Boris, Odessa Rae
After foreign troops withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021, a journalist is given permission to follow
and film two Taliban military men for a year. Winner, Feature Documentary Award, El Gouna
Film Festival.
THE LAST OF THE SEA WOMEN
Director: Sue Kim
Producers: Malala Yousafzai, Erika Kennair
Executive produced by Malala Yousafzai, The Last of the Sea Women explores the community
of fisherwomen called the haenyeo on South Korea’s Jeju Island. (Apple Original Films) Winner,
NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film, TIFF.
A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS
Director: Silje Evensmo Jacobsen
Producer: Mari Bakke Riise
An endearing family devoted to living in harmony with nature faces difficult challenges when
their matriarch unexpectedly passes away. Winner, World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury
Award, Sundance Film Festival.
NOCTURNES
Directors: Anirban Dutta, Anupama Srinivasan
Producer: Anirban Dutta
In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, two curious observers probe the dark of night to
gain a greater understanding of one of nature’s most spellbinding creatures, the moth.
(Grasshopper Films) Winner, World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Craft,
Sundance Film Festival.
PATRICE: THE MOVIE
Director: Ted Passon
Producers: Kyla Harris, Innbo Shim, Emily Spivack
Patrice: The Movie plays like a romantic comedy, despite its serious subject matter about a
couple fighting for disability rights. (Hulu) Winner, Audience Award, Camden International Film
Festival.
* Sugarcane is also featured in DOC NYC’s VOICES OF CANADA.
Written by: Addie Mortfoot
By: Brooks Barnes The Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney has sold a majority stake in his Jigsaw Productions to the philanthropist Wendy Schmidt. At a time when the documentary film business is atrophying, one of the world’s leading documentarians, Alex Gibney, has taken on a powerful partner: Wendy Schmidt, a billionaire philanthropist by way of Google. “We’ve been… Continue reading A Top Documentary Director Finds a Billionaire Backer
By: Clayton Davis If the Oscars shortlist is the equivalent of mid-term exams for awards contenders, then Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” and Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” just received passing grades. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 97th Oscars ceremony. The preliminary voting applies to animated short film,… Continue reading Oscars Shortlist Announced in 10 Categories: ‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Wicked’ Lead the Charge
By: Tatiana Siegel It was a story that rocked the nation. And now, the first project about the brazen, broad daylight killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is on the way. Anonymous Content and Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Prods. are teaming up to develop and produce a documentary about the Dec. 4 fatal shooting that took place in… Continue reading Luigi Mangione Documentary in the Works From Alex Gibney, Anonymous Content
By: Katie Kilkenny The film has opted to distribute in an untraditional manner in the latest example of mainstream distributors avoiding risky nonfiction plays. The Bibi Files, the explosive documentary containing leaked footage of interrogations in the ongoing corruption trial of Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, is set to stream on the new platform Jolt. The film from… Continue reading Alex Gibney’s ‘The Bibi Files’ to Distribute on Jolt: “A Lot of the Major Outlets Just Were Nervous”
By: Addie Morfoot The new direct-to-consumer film platform could be the answer to the doc distribution crisis “The Bibi Files,” a documentary about Benjamin Netanyahu that features never-before-seen video of the Israeli Prime Minister being interrogated by police on corruption allegations that led to his indictment in 2019, will be available to stream on Jolt.film beginning Dec.… Continue reading ‘The Bibi Files’ – the Docu That Benjamin Netanyahu Doesn’t Want You to See – to Launch on Jolt (EXCLUSIVE)
New Yorker staff writer Lawrence Wright remembers colleagues asking, “Why do you live in Texas?” when his location shouldn’t have been exceptional. Writers from all over the world contribute to the magazine. The difference, Wright says, is that Texas was perceived as “anti-New York.” Once a left-leaning state, Texas has swung far to the right. It’s one… Continue reading Holding On to a Good Story: Making ‘God Save Texas’
Production is underway on what is described as “the definitive multi-part documentary” on Barbra Streisand, with Frank Marshall directing and Alex Gibney producing, it was announced Thursday by Sony Music Vision, which is developing the doc in partnership with Columbia Records, Jigsaw Productions and the Kennedy/Marshall Company. The doc will offer “an intimate and comprehensive exploration of every facet of… Continue reading Barbra Streisand to Be Subject of Multi-Part Documentary Directed by Frank Marshall
The new direct-to-consumer film platform could be the answer to the doc distribution crisis. “The Bibi Files,” a documentary about Benjamin Netanyahu that features never-before-seen video of the Israeli Prime Minister being interrogated by police on corruption allegations that led to his indictment in 2019, will be available to stream on Jolt.film beginning Dec. 11. In September,… Continue reading ‘The Bibi Files’ – the Docu That Benjamin Netanyahu Doesn’t Want You to See – to Launch on Jolt (EXCLUSIVE)
Documentarian Alex Gibney opens up about his exploration of the grit and guts it took to bring one of television’s most influential series to life. When HBO first approached Alex Gibney about making a docuseries about The Sopranos, he was inclined to say no. As much as the Academy Award-winning director loved the show, he wasn’t interested in… Continue reading How Wise Guy Delivered The Sopranos Postscript We Didn’t Know We Needed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the topic of a new feature documentary, “The Bibi Files” produced by Oscar winner Alex Gibney and directed by Alexis Bloom. The two-hour docu, which will screen as work-in-progress at the Toronto Film Intl. Festival, features never-before-seen police interrogation footage of Netanyahu. The recordings were made between 2016 and 2018 as… Continue reading Alexis Bloom Doc Featuring Never-Before-Seen Police Interrogation Footage of Benjamin Netanyahu to Screen at TIFF (EXCLUSIVE)
Oscar nominee Steve James (Hoop Dreams) has been set to direct Mind vs. Machine, a new docuseries on the lightning rod topic of artificial intelligence from Oscar winner Alex Gibney‘s Jigsaw Productions, Closer Media, Anonymous Content, and Emmy-winning producers Alyssa Fedele & Zachary Fink of Collective Hunch (The Rescue List, The Ride of Their Lives). Gibney comes to the project after working with Closer… Continue reading ‘Hoop Dreams’ Helmer Steve James Teaming With Alex Gibney On AI Docuseries ‘Mind Vs. Machine’
Erotic thrillers, phone flirting, a faceless ghost possibly related to Hugh Dancy, seven hours of the Dave Matthews Band, and suspicious sushi tuna that gives you the runs: 2023 might have been the podcast world’s year from hell, but its participants are still pumping out all sorts of wonderful and weird stuff that leave their… Continue reading “Search Engine” Comes #1 on the list of Vulture’s The Best Podcasts of 2023, According to People Who Make Podcasts
Read the full article here.
MGM+ has acquired Oscar winner Alex Gibney’s two-part documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, an immersive journey into the work of one of greatest singer-songwriters in the history of the recording industry. The streaming platform plans to debut part 1 on March 17 and part 2 on March 24. In Restless Dreams captures Simon… Continue reading MGM+ Acquires ‘In Restless Dreams: The Music Of Paul Simon,’ Alex Gibney’s Two-Part Documentary On Legendary Singer-Songwriter
Alex Gibney has just completed production on the definitive documentary about Paul Simon’s legendary Grammy Award-winning career. The film also follows Simon’s journey creating his new album “Seven Psalms,” (recently released to rapturous reviews) which poses questions about faith and mortality, during the pandemic and while dealing with his hearing loss. The film is expected… Continue reading Oscar Winning Filmmaker Alex Gibney Completes 3-Year Project on One of the Most Celebrated Musical Artists of Our Time “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon”
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker, Alex Gibney, who’s made some of the most notable investigative documentaries of our time, announced today that he’s months into the making of MUSK, a definitive and unvarnished examination of multi-billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter. Jigsaw Productions is producing the film alongside Closer Media, Anonymous Content,… Continue reading ALEX GIBNEY, ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNING DOCUMENTARIAN, SETS HIS SIGHTS ON ELON MUSK
The union will bargain on behalf of 50 freelance employees in roles including associate producer, co-producer, field producer, segment producer, post producer and others.
‘Alex Gibney’s Citizen K will screen at London Film Festival on October 3rd. Tickets are on sale now: https://bit.ly/2lZ3BmR
Variety’s Justin Chang reviewed Jigsaw Productions’ latest film, “The Armstrong Lie,” focusing on the layered nature of the film. Director Alex Gibney started by following Lance Armstrong’s return to the Tour de France in 2009 but changed course as allegations of Armstrong’s doping made headlines again. Chang writes, “What might have once been a largely… Continue reading “The Armstrong Lie” gets a strong review in Variety
Alex Gibney’s newest film, “The Armstrong Lie,” will premiere at the Venice Film Festival this fall, and will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film features a multi-year account of Armstrong’s life in cycling.
Jigsaw and HBO’s 2012 film “Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God” won an early Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking! The award was a juried winner — meaning judges voted unanimously — and it was the only documentary to receive an early Emmy. The film has also been nominated for 5… Continue reading Jigsaw wins an early Emmy
In the wake of Bradley Manning’s court martial verdict on July 30, many took to Twitter to express their thoughts on the matter. Manning was acquitted of aiding the enemy, but found guilty of violating the Espionage Act, stealing government property, among other charges. The trial centered around Manning’s role in leaking military records and… Continue reading Reactions to the Bradley Manning verdict
Jigsaw’s new film, following both Lance Armstrong’s return to the Tour de France in 2009 and his 2013 admission to doping, will be released by Sony Pictures Classics. “The Armstrong Lie” was directed and produced by Alex Gibney, and features a multi-year account of Armstrong’s life in cycling. Read more here.
A day after being named a finalist for the Humanitas Prize, “Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God,” received 5 Emmy nominations. Another 2013 Jigsaw film, the two-part music documentary “History of the Eagles,” received 2 nominations. Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming Outstanding Directing… Continue reading Jigsaw’s films nominated for 7 Emmys
Jigsaw’s 2012 film “Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God” was named a finalist for the Humanitas Prize! Winners will be announced in September. The film documents the first known public protest against clerical sex abuse in the U.S. These four deaf young men set out to expose the priest who had abused them… Continue reading Mea Maxima Culpa named a finalist for Humanitas Prize
The Los Angeles Times interviewed director Alex Gibney in 2010 when “Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer” first came out. Reporter Steven Zeitchik asked Gibney if he thought Spitzer would get back into politics, and which office he would run for. “Yes. Comptroller,” Gibney answered without hesitation. “It’s a position where he can… Continue reading LA Times on Eliot Spitzer’s candidacy
An article by Laurie Goldstein, New York Times reporter, showed that Cardinal Timothy F. Dolan sought to protect church assets from victims of sex abuse by moving $57 million into a cemetery trust fund. Cardinal Dolan has previously expressed outrage against the abuse of children. The revelation came as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee released a… Continue reading Update: Cardinal sought to protect church from sex abuse claims
Alex Gibney stopped by The Huffington Post Live last week to talk about leaks, whistleblowers, and their role in light of Edward Snowden’s release of NSA secrets. Joined by Jeremy Scahill (Dirty Wars writer/producer) and Jeff Jarvis, CUNY journalism professor. In light of Snowden’s request to seek asylum from Ecuador, the story of WikiLeaks and… Continue reading Gibney on Snowden, Manning, and leaking
Vote for “Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream,” Jigsaw’s contribution to the PBS series “Why Poverty?” Independent Lens’ Audience Award voting closes June 28. Please help us spread the word! The film is about the moat that America’s richest citizens have constructed around themselves. In roughly the last forty years, the establishment of that… Continue reading Park Avenue up for Independent Lens Audience Award
Alex Gibney hosted a Q&A on the subreddit IAmA, talking about everything from how the film “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks” came about to where he keeps his Oscar. On “Taxi to the Dark Side,” Gibney wrote: I hope that the docs have made me a more empathetic and humble person. I always… Continue reading Reddit AMA with Alex Gibney on leaking
Recently, Alex Gibney stopped by The Colbert Report to talk about Bradley Manning’s ongoing trial. Gibney and Colbert go through the storyline and characters in “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks.”
2012’s “Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream” focused on the differences between Park Avenue in Manhattan and Park Avenue in The Bronx, highlighting the discrepancies in wealth in New York City. Part of the film includes a profile of David Koch, a politically active billionaire who lives in one of the most famous… Continue reading Park Ave in The New Yorker
Director Alex Gibney appeared on Huffington Post Live on May 15 to talk about “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks” during a half-hour interview. The discussion ranged from the role of Julian Assange in the WikiLeaks story to the government’s handling of leaks even recently, with the Department of Justice recently admitting to seizing… Continue reading Alex Gibney on Huffington Post Live for “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks”
WikiLeaks Was Just a Preview: We’re Headed for an Even Bigger Showdown Over Secrets
The PBS-produced series of documentaries called “Why Poverty?” won a Peabody Award for its “parallax views of poverty today and through the ages.” 72nd Annual Winners Announcement from Peabody Awards on Vimeo. Jigsaw’s contribution to series, “Park Avenue: Money, Power & the American Dream,” looked at the harsh distinction between New York’s rich and poor… Continue reading “Why Poverty” wins Peabody Award
Alex Gibney’s WikiLeaks Documentary Gets Closer
The trailer for We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks is online — and was released last week on Apple: http://bit.ly/10nOoas We Steal Secrets – Trailer from Jigsaw Productions on Vimeo. The film follows the growth of WikiLeaks and tells the story of two of the people behind the largest leak of secrets ever: Bradley… Continue reading We Steal Secrets trailer released
Jigsaw’s hockey documentary, “The Last Gladiators,” was released on DVD March 12 through Phase 4 Films. The film, profiling legendary fighters Chris Nilan and Tony Twist, focuses on the difficulties of returning to life post-NHL. You can find out more and download the movie on iTunes here: http://ow.ly/iOq2o Watch the trailer here: http://youtu.be/wv9UAmA0RJA
History of the Eagles: Part 1, one of Jigsaw’s newest films, will screen as a special event at Sundance London in late April. See the full line-up here: http://bit.ly/YcI83H Watch the trailer here:
We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks director Alex Gibney wrote an op-ed for the New Statesman this weekend, highlighting the importance of truth in discussing the WikiLeaks story. The article was a response to a column by John Pilger, a WikiLeaks supporter who questioned elements of We Steal Secrets without having seen the film.… Continue reading Gibney authors New Statesman article defending need for truth in discussing WikiLeaks
Mea Maxima Culpa, one of Jigsaw’s newest films, was featured on Entertainment Tonight in a story about ABC News reporter Bob Ross and his run-in with Pope Benedict regarding sex abuse in the Catholic church. In the report, the ET anchor shows an interview with Bob Ross where he describes being slapped on the wrist… Continue reading Mea Maxima Culpa featured on Entertainment Tonight
Jigsaw’s latest film, We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, will be released in New York and Los Angeles on May 24. Starting in June, the film will be available in wider markets. Read an early review of the film by The Hollywood Reporter‘s David Rooney.
The British Film Institute named Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God the film of the week Feb. 15, saying it “meticulously assembles an impressive range of evidence.” Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God premiered in the UK in early February, making its Irish debut at the Jameson Dublin International… Continue reading Mea Maxima Culpa is BFI’s Film of the Week
The Financial Times’ 5-star review of Mea Maxima Culpa
Director Alex Gibney says Pope’s resignation is linked to sex abuse
Phase 4 Films will be releasing The Last Gladiators on March 12. The Last Gladiators profiles Chris Nilan and Tony Twist, tenacious enforcers in the National Hockey League. Through interviews with a generation of hockey’s most hard-bitten tough guys, the film explores what it means to grow up from carefree games on icy ponds to… Continue reading Last Gladiators to be released on DVD March 12
The Eagles through Gibney’s Lens
Jigsaw’s latest release, Mea Maxima Culpa, makes its Canadian debut tonight on the CBC’s Passionate Eye. The film, which is available in the United States on HBO & HBO GO, looks at an environment of silence in the Catholic church regarding sex abuse — a culture that extends all the way up to the Vatican.… Continue reading Mea Maxima Culpa premieres on CBC tonight
In the wake of the first resignation by a pope in six centuries, Jigsaw’s Mea Maxima Culpa, which is currently screening on HBO and in limited release, has been a large part of the conversation. Director Alex Gibney has given interviews where he praises the Pope’s decision to resign, saying “his time as Pope has… Continue reading Recent links: Mea Maxima Culpa press coverage & the Pope’s resignation
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy In the wake of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, announced February 11, media quickly raised questions about the reasons behind the Pope’s decision. Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God debuted on HBO Documentaries one week before, and media outlets looked to… Continue reading Mea Maxima Culpa is mentioned in coverage of the Pope’s resgination
Following a great reception at Sundance last month, “History of the Eagles” was the focus of a New York Times ArtsBeat blog post. The story is an interview with Eagles band leaders Glenn Frey and Don Henley, explaining how the project came about. Frey, in the interview: I think the first thing we had in… Continue reading An interview with Glenn Frey and Don Henley on “History of the Eagles”
Don Henley & Glenn Frey on History of the Eagles: Parts 1 & 2 – ArtsBeat blog
New York Times previews The Last Gladiators
Our new two-part music documentary, “History of the Eagles” premieres on Showtime in February. A description of the film: The Eagles celebrate their 40th anniversary with this two-part documentary. Using never before seen home movies, archival footage, and new interviews with all current and former band members, the film provides an intimate look into the… Continue reading “History of the Eagles” premieres February 15 on Showtime
Our newest film, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, premieres this Monday, February 4, at 9PM/8C on HBO, and will be available on HBO On Demand starting February 5. A description of the film followed by the trailer: Mea Maxima Culpa examines the abuse of power in the Catholic Church through the story of… Continue reading Mea Maxima Culpa Premieres on HBO on February 4
Here are Showtimes and Locations: February 1, 2013 Cinema Village 22 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003 February 15, 2013 St. Anthony Main Theatre 115 SE Main Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414 February 22, 2013 The Manor 1729 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 For more information visit the official website for The Last Gladiators.
It’s difficult for one filmmaker to criticize another. That’s a job best left to critics. However, in the case of Zero Dark Thirty, about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, an issue that is central to the film — torture — is so important that I feel I must say something. Mark Boal and Kathryn… Continue reading Zero Dark Thirty’s Wrong and Dangerous Conclusion
Variety says Mea Maxima Culpa is “an expansive and authoritative study” of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church
Sneak preview of We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
We’re excited to announce that two of our films, We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks and History of the Eagles, will have their world premieres at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in January. For more info, as well as the other films at the festival, check out the official Sundance site.
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God was announced as one of the 15 documentaries on the shortlist for this year’s Academy Awards. The full list of films: “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry,” Never Sorry LLC “Bully,” The Bully Project LLC “Chasing Ice,” Exposure “Detropia,” Loki Films “Ethel,” Moxie Firecracker Films “5 Broken Cameras,”… Continue reading Mea Maxima Culpa on Academy Award shortlist
Our new film, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, is now in theaters in New York and Los Angeles, with an additional screening in San Francisco this coming Tuesday. See below for locations and links to showtimes. NEW YORK Film Forum, 11/16 – 11/29 LOS ANGELES Laemmle Monica, 11/16 – 11/22 SAN… Continue reading Mea Maxima Culpa in Theaters
A brief announcement for anyone in the area: What: A demonstration and leafleting outside a Hall of Fame induction ceremony of the Essex Catholic High School Foundation. Essex Catholic High School was located in Newark and East Orange, NJ, and closed in 2003. When: Friday, November 16, 2012 from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM. Where: On the… Continue reading Road to Recovery event today in Belleville, NJ
Dear Friends in Syria and around our brave new world, Your outstanding solidarity with me, during my three weeks trip under Syria’s ground, had the most touching impact. You have all made what could have been a much longer and more violent journey a much easier one, no matter how unforgettable it is. Now, after… Continue reading A Message From Orwa
Alex Gibney and Lawrence Wright reach out to the global film community to call for the release of Syrian filmmaker Orwa Nyrabia.
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God will debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The trailer for the film has just been released: