“Taking Back the Groove” Screening at the Pan African Film and Arts Festival

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Director and Producer: Celia Aniskovich
Producer(s): Roddy Lindsay
Executive Producers; : Raekwon, Russell Peters, and Bradley Credit
Cinematographer; Brett Banks, Editor; Atish Mehta, Composer

Taking Back the Groove reintroduces the world to Bronx-born ’80s disco superstar Richie Weeks. A writer, singer, and producer who was compared to Quincy Jones at his height, Richie created quintessential New York Disco and performed in the likes of Studio 54 and Paradise Garage, all while maintaining day jobs as a postal worker and bricklayer. His mega-hit Rock Your World made it to #1 on the dance charts in the ’80s, and has since become a landmark song in the field of disco and house music.

While his ingenious mixes appealed to a kaleidoscope of glitter and lamé-clad partiers, his songs were never truly his own. Like many Black artists throughout American recording history, his talent was strip mined to enrich white-owed record labels.

When disco cooled down, Richie Weeks and many other artists like him faded from view. But now, a new series of previously unheard recordings, from his private trove of 300 vintage tracks, is bringing him fresh recognition.

Taking Back the Groove tells the story of how Richie Weeks clawed back the right to his own music in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and his ongoing fight to restore his legacy and share his music.

The Pan African Film and Arts Festival Anounces 2024 Launch of John Singleton Short Film Competition

OFFICIAL PAFF 2024

The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) announces their call for submissions for their second season of their screenwriting competition, the John Singleton Short Film Competition. Three three filmmakers will be awarded $20,000 each for the production and completion of a live-action narrative short film of their winning screenplays. Submissions open January 6 and close on Feb. 19.

Inspired by the legacy of the Los Angeles-born and legendary filmmaker, John Singleton, PAFF’s short film competition is the result of a partnership between the City of Los Angeles and the Pan African Film Festival.

“We’re committed to fostering inclusivity and amplifying Black voices in film,” said Sherri G. Sneed, the competition’s executive producer. “Our program aims to empower emerging Black Filmmakers, providing not just a grant but resources, support and a platform to share powerful narratives. Together, we will enrich the cinematic landscape with diverse stories that resonate globally.”

John Singleton’s films are known for centering on Black characters with humanizing stories about the often-routine circumstances and individuals in society that were mostly ignored or exploited beyond the point of recognition. The goal of the competition is to encourage and ignite Black filmmakers who desire to continue that commitment in their creative approach by providing them with the financial resources to write, direct, and produce an original and innovative film that echoes the cultural contributions of John Singleton.

“Through this partnership with PAFF, we recognize the enduring impact of one of the world’s greatest filmmakers, John Singleton, and the transformative power of storytelling,” said Councilmember Heather Hutt. “We are empowering the next generation of cinematic visionaries, fostering creativity and cultural expression that enriches our city’s vibrant tapestry. Together, we are ensuring that the heart of filmmaking, right here in Los Angeles, continues to beat with innovation, diversity, and boundless possibility.”

Singleton’s mother Sheila L. Ward, “Again, I support the John Singleton Short Film Competition. I thank everyone involved in creating such a needed platform.    My son [John] would be proud.”

“As a first time filmmaker, the John Singleton Short Film Competition allowed me to blossom into a Black woman who learned her strengths as a creative, while also gaining insight about how to become an effective leader in business, added 2021 winner Chelsea Hicks (“Contrban”). “I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to create a beautiful story in honor of John Singleton’s legacy, and continue to be inspired by what he has accomplished to humanize our stories in film.”

“To walk in the path of John Singleton’s creative legacy is an honor,” 2021 winner TJ Ali (“The Lifted”). “It’s competitions like these that change lives, I’m a testament to that.”

“We are both so thrilled for the John Singleton Short Film Competition to continue,” said Jenesis Scott and Brandon Hammond, whose script for “Amaru” was a winner in 2021.  “The careers this competition can jumpstart going forward is unlimited. We are honored to be a part of that history and excited for this competition to become one of the most coveted awards in film.”

Under Councilmember Heather Hutt’s leadership, embRACE L.A. is an initiative aimed at unifying Angelenos and empowering communities through a citywide conversation about race and racism, challenging and changing inequities. embRACE L.A.’s multidimensional approach focuses on changing narratives, building relationships and advancing public policy solutions. Through a wide-variety of programs and strategies, the initiative is an unprecedented partnership between government, organizations and residents.

For more information, including how to submit, please visit paff.org/jssfc.

COMPETITION DETAILS

Eligibility:

Genre: These awards are for live-action short narrative films.

Length: Submitted screenplays must be 25 pages or less and completed projects should be no more than 30 minutes (including film credits)

Content:

The thread of the story must focus on the Black Experience in the United States, told through the lens of its Black characters.

The story should also incorporate the theme of illustrating, challenging and/or changing social inequities with topics that may include, but are not limited to race; social, educational, environmental and/or economic justice; mass incarceration and the criminal justice system; police brutality; LGBTQ rights; gentrification; homelessness; immigration; civil rights/human rights; workers’ rights; and gender discrimination.

Who Can Apply:

Screenwriters, Directors and Producers who self-identify as Black and own or have rights for the copyright on the submitted screenplay.

Creative Team:

All of the credited Screenwriter(s), Director(s), and Producer(s) on the submitted project must self-identify as Black.

Additionally, the applicant must be a resident of Los Angeles. All other members of the creative team (e.g., Executive Producer(s), Associate Producer(s), & Crew) can self-identify as any race/ethnicity and can reside anywhere in the world.

Prior Experience:

Screenwriter, Director OR Producer of the submitted project must have completed and been credited as either a writer, director or producer on a previous project (short or feature of any genre and subject, web series, TV , etc.). A sample of previous work (Vimeo link) is required on the application.

Brief Timeline:

Screenplay submissions period is open December 26, 2023 at 12:00am PST. Submissions close February 19, 2024 at 11:59pm PST.

Principal photography must occur between May 2024 and July 2024. Completed films must be delivered to PAFF by December 1, 2024.

Other Requirements:

The credited Screenwriter, Director, and Producer of each winning project must be able to attend a one (1) day Filmmaker Summit in Los Angeles to be held April 2024. Exact date TBD.

Please be advised that attendance at the Filmmaker Summit is mandatory and travel and housing accommodations will not be provided.

Submission Fee: $50.00:

Each submission requires a $50.00 submission fee.

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About the Pan African Film & Arts Festival

Taking place February 6-19, 2024, in Los Angeles, the Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) presents and showcases a broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help to destroy negative stereotypes of Africans and African-Americans. Since 1992, PAFF has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression. Today, PAFF is one of the largest and most prestigious Black film festivals in the U.S. and attracts local, national, and international audiences. In addition, it is an Oscar-qualifying festival for animation and live-action films, and one of the largest Black History Month events in America.

PAFF is sponsored in part by the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell through the Department of Arts and Culture, LA Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, LA Councilmember Curren Price, LA Councilmember Heather Hutt, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, LA Arts COVID-19 Relief Fund with the California Community Foundation, and the LA County COVID-19 Arts Relief Fund administered by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture.

The Pan African Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

For more information, please visit paff.org.

 

Key West FF 2023 Announces Golden Key honors including Jacqueline Durran (Costume Design) and Sheila Nevins (Documentary Filmmaking) 

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KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES golden key honors for costume design and documentary 

2023 FESTIVAL RUNS NOVEMBER 15-19TH

Key West, FL October 5, 2023 — The Key West Film Festival announced today the recipients of its 8th annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design, and 2nd annual Golden Key Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking.

The recipients this year are Academy Award winning Costume Designer Jacqueline Durran and Academy Award winning Executive, Director and Producer, Sheila Nevins.

Jacqueline Durran’s most recent work can be seen in the record-breaking, billion-dollar box office smash Barbie.

As part of the honor, Durran will participate in a discussion of her work, to be moderated by Stephanie Zacharek of Time. Ms. Durran will accept her award in person at the festival, which will feature a pre-recorded presentation by Oscar nominated Costume Designer, Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis. Past recipients of the award include Mary Zophres, Mark Bridges, Alexandra Byrne, Arianne Phillips, Jamison-Tanchuck, Paul Tazwell, and Jennifer Johnson.

Sheila Nevins, an industry icon whose recent credits include the Academy Award nominated documentary Ascension (2021) and the current Oscar contender The Eternal Memory,  will be joined by award winning director Erin Lee Carr, winner of the inaugural KWFF Documentary Award, for a conversation via satellite. Following the talk, the festival will present the Florida premiere of the short film, The ABC’s of Book Banning, directed by Nevins, which centers on the book banning efforts of a school district in central Florida.

In addition to Barbie, Jacqueline Durran previously collaborated with director Greta Gerwig on Little Women which garnered Durran the Academy and BAFTA Awards for Best Costume Design, as well as Chicago Film Critics Association and Critics’ Choice Award nominations. Durran previously won the Academy and BAFTA Award for Best Costume for Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina.

Durran’s many other collaborations with director Joe Wright comprise most recently Cyrano for which she was nominated for an Academy and Costume Designers Guild Award; Darkest Hour which garnered her both Academy and BAFTA nominations; PanThe SoloistAtonement for which she received Academy, BAFTA, Satellite and Costume Designers Guild Award nominations, and Pride and Prejudice for which Durran also received Academy and BAFTA Award nominations.

Sheila Nevins is an Executive Producer for MTV Documentary Films. Sheila is the former president of HBO Documentary Films and Family Programming for Home Box Office. At HBO, she was responsible for overseeing the development and production of more than 1500 programs for HBO, HBO2 and Cinemax.

She has received 32 Primetime Emmy® Awards, 35 News and Documentary Emmys® and 42 George Foster Peabody Awards.  During her tenure, HBO’s critically acclaimed documentaries won 26 Academy Awards®. She has been honored with numerous prestigious career achievement awards, including the 2018 Realscreen Legacy Award and the 2017 DOC NYC Lifetime Achievement Award.  She is the recipient of the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and is a NYU Tisch School of the Arts Honoree. Women in Film presented Sheila with a Lucy Award for her outstanding achievements in advancing documentary filmmaking and the National Board of Review presented her with the Humanitarian Award for her contribution to the advancement of social reforms and the promotion of human welfare through film.  

Michael Tuckman, Director of Programming of the Key West Film Festival, commented " Jacqueline and Sheila stand at the apex of their fields. Sheila has been a trailblazer in documentary filmmaking for over five decades, constantly pushing and redefining the boundaries of the genre, and kicking down a glass door that opened opportunities for so many women in the field in particular. Jacqueline has given particular emphasis to creating the characters of so many powerful women in film, from Anna Karenina to the March family to Barbie herself, in her many iterations. It’s an absolute honor to recognize and highlight the work of these incredible women.” 

Visit kwfilmfest.com  for full program information – which will be announced on October 19, along with a schedule of events and travel and lodging details.

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL
Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 15-19, 2023. A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.  

For more information, visit our website: https://kwfilmfest.com

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival#kwff #kwff2023 

PR CONTACT INFORMATION:

Emma Griffiths (EG PR)/ emma@eg-pr.com  

“Tokyo Cowboy” World Premiere as the Centerpiece Gala Screening at Tallgrass Film Festival on October 7th, Starring Arata Iura, Goya Robles, Ayako Fujitani, Robin Weigert, & Jun Kunimura 

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Starring: Arata Iura, Goya Robles, Ayako Fujitani with Robin Weigert and Jun Kunimura 
Director: Marc Marriott 
Producer: Brigham Taylor 
Writers: Ayako Fujitani and Dave Boyle 
Director of Photography: Oscar Ignacio Jimenez 
Editor: Yasu Inoue 
Story by: Marc Marriott and Brigham
Run time: 1 hour 58 minutes

"Tokyo Cowboy" will officially make it world premiere as the Centerpiece Gala Screening at Tallgrass Film Festival on October 7th, at Heartland International Film Festival on October 9th & 11th, at Montana Film Festival October, Hawaii International Film Festival on October 13th & 16th, and a west coast premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival on October 19th, and Ojai Film Festival on November 6th. 

Brash businessman Hideki arrives in Montana having convinced his Tokyo bosses he can turn a profitless US cattle ranch into a premiere-performing asset. Yet when his Hardee’s-burger-loving Japanese Wagyu-beef expert fails him, Hideki is poised to misfire magnificently unless he identifies a missing element that’s key to the transformation… himself. 

“Tokyo Cowboy” is a cross-cultural journey in both English and Japanese (with English subtitles), filmed in Japan and Montana and is a rich character driven drama featuring a wealth of talent both in front of the camera and behind it“Tokyo Cowboy” stars Japan’s own Arata Iura (After Life, Air Doll, and Like Father, Like Son among 50 films), Goya Robles (EPIX Get Shorty, 11:55), Ayako Fujitani (The Last Ship, Man From Reno), with Robin Weigert (HBO Deadwood, Bombshell), and Jun Kunimura (Kill Bill: Vol. 1, The Wailing). The film is directed by Marc Marriott (History Channel’s Ax Men, Discovery Channel’s Roush Racing: Driver); produced by Brigham Taylor (Tron: Legacy, The Jungle Book, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Tomorrowland), Jeri Rafter (Butcher’s Crossing, Ted K), and Marc Marriott; written by Dave Boyle (House of Ninja’s, Man From Reno), and Ayako Fujitani (The Last Ship, Man From Reno); with music composed by Chad Cannon (American Factory, Mind Over Murder); cinematography by Oscar Ignacio Jimenez (The Killing of Two Lovers, Best Place); and edited by Yasu Inoue (Accept The Call, A-Town Boyz). 

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“Tokyo Cowboy” Website:  https://www.tokyocowboyfilm.com 

2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Films to See: American Outlaws, Commitment To Life, Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection and Starring Jerry As Himself

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“American Outlaws” (Feature Film True Crime Drama)North American Independent Cinema Sponsored By Panavision Selection (SBIFF)

Director & Writer: Sean McEwen
Starring: Emory Cohen, India Eisley, Sam Strike, Tess Harper, Cory Hardrict, and Treat Williams, joined by Mackenzie Graham, Vanessa Giselle, Lance E. Nichols, Johnny Ray Gibbs, and Troy Metcalf
Running Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

West Coast Premiere:
Friday, February 17th at 8:40pm. Followed by Q&A
Location: Metro 4, Screen 3
618 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

2nd Screening:
Saturday, February 18th at 2:40pm. Followed by Q&A
Location: Metro 4, Screen 3
618 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

“American Outlaws” is based on a true story and the GQ article "The Whole True Story of the Dougherty Gang" by Kathy Dobie. Written & directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sean McEwen (“Braking For Whales,” “Sick Girl”).

While the true story of “American Outlaws”  encompasses the proverbial bells and whistles of compelling storytelling -- sex, drugs and rock & roll (the sister, a former stripper now toting an AK47, two brothers with a wild streak and the propensity to live life on the razor’s edge with gunplay, police chases and bank robberies galore) -- at its heart, it’s a story about family.  Three siblings, on a cross-country journey, with the strongest desire to find the simplest element…  Home. A place to be together.  Safe.  Happy.  Free.

Production Co: Narrator Entertainment, Big Cat Productions and Charlie Baby Productions
Producers: ­­­­­­McEwen, Cassidy Lunnen , Alexandre Dauman, John Papsidera
Executive Producer: Takashi Cheng
Co-producers: Danyelle Foord and Jessica Wilde
Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes

“COMMITMENT TO LIFE” (Feature Film Documentary)

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION Selection (SBIFF)

Director:
Writer:
Interviewees: Jewel Thais-Williams Co-founder, Minority AIDS Project; Phill Wilson  HIV/AIDS Activist; Karamo Brown “Queer Eye” Cast Member & HIV/AIDS Educator; Dr. Michael Gottlieb Physician and Former APLA Board Member; Bruce Vilanch  Writer and Comedian; Jeffrey Katzenberg Former Chairman, Walt Disney Studios and APLA Board Member; Bill Misenhimer  Former APLA Executive Director; Robert Contreras Co-Founder, Bienestar; Torie Osborn Former Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Rev. Steve Pieters  Former Field Director of AIDS Ministry, Metropolitan Community Churches; and Bamby Salcedo President, TransLatin Coalitio.

West Coast Premiere:
Saturday, February 11th at 7:40pm followed by Q&A
Location: Fiesta 5 Multiplex, Screen 4
916 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

2nd Screening: Sunday, February 12th at 10:20am. Followed by Q&A
Location: Fiesta 5 Multiplex, Screen 4
916 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Against a rich Hollywood backdrop, “Commitment to Life” documents the true story of the fight against HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles — and how an intrepid group of people living with HIV/AIDS, doctors, movie stars, studio moguls and activists changed the course of the epidemic.

Director & Editor: Jeffrey Schwarz
Producers: Aimée Flaherty, p.g.a. and Jeffrey Schwarz, p.g.a.
Executive Producer: Ron Sylvester,
Co-Executive Producer: Robert James Wood II
Co-Producer: Taki Oldham
Associate Producer: Michael Stabile
Executive Producer: Craig Thompson
Supervising Producer: Craig Bowers
Composer: Allyson Newman
Cinematographer: Adam Jason Finmann
Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

 

“Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection” (Feature Documentary Film)

CINEMATIC OVERTURES/PERFORMING ARTS Selection (SBIFF)

Director Randy Martin
Producer & Writer: Randy Schmidt
Interviewee: Olivia Newton-John, Cynthia Gibb, Suzanne Somers, Kristin Chenoweth, Carnie Wilson, Bob James, Carol Burnett, Belinda Carlisle, Cubby O’Brien, Tom Nolan, Karen Tongson, Cherry Boone O’Neill, Louis Virtel, Randy Schmidt, Barry Morrow, Frankie Chavez, Doug Haverty, Maria Galeazzi, and Mike Curb.

West Coast Premiere:
Friday, February 10th at 8:20pm. Followed by Q&A
Location: Metro 4, Screen 2
618 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

2nd Screening: Sunday,  February 12th at 11:20am. Followed by Q&A
Metro 4, Screen 2
618 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

About the Film: Karen Carpenter was the first in a long line of celebrities to suffer from an eating disorder during an era when the vastly misunderstood disease brought shame and public humiliation. For the first time, we hear Karen Carpenter's personal struggle in her own voice through never-before released recordings and through the legendary voices of those who knew her and were inspired by her music. As the #1 American musical act of the 1970s, the Carpenters were on “top of the world," producing a string of pop masterpieces, including "Close to You," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Rainy Days and Mondays." But behind closed doors, Karen's quest for perfection resulted in low self-esteem, a disheartening love life, and a public battle with anorexia nervosa, which ended with her untimely death at the age of only 32. Forty years after her death comes “Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection,” a captivating, revealing, and unvarnished documentary providing astounding new insight into the singer's tragically short life and enduring musical legacy.

Production Co.: AMS Pictures
Director Randy Martin
Producer & Writer: Randy Schmidt
Producer & Editor Brad Osborne
Executive Producers Carnie Wilson  & Andy Streitfeld
Director of Photography: Osman Tello
Editors Chuck Brown & Paul Ellison
Running Time: 1hour 40 minutes

 

“Starring Jerry As Himself” (Feature Film Docu-Fiction Hybrid)
REEL LIVES Selection (SBIFF)

Recently having won the Slamdance Film Festival Grand Jury Documentary Feature, Audience Award Documentary & Acting Award for Jerry Hsu with sold out screenings and standing ovations, “Starring Jerry As Himself” is a docu-fiction hybrid that blurs the lines of reality while staying true to Jerry Hsu, the title subject and his unique story. Jerry  is the father everyone wants to have as their own, and his journey is one that rivals that of Alice following the white rabbit into another world. Employing a variety of creative filmmaking techniques to capture the world from Jerry’s perspective, the film is a genre bending meta experience as Jerry deals with a wild tale of international intrigue in which he inexplicably finds himself a lynchpin with his family none the wiser...or has he?

West Coast Premiere:
Wednesday, February 15th at 4:20pm. Followed by Q&A
Location: Fiesta 4 Multiplex, Screen 4
916 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

2nd Screening:
Friday, February 17th at 8;30am. Followed by Q&A
Location: Fiesta 4 Multiplex, Screen 4
916 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Director & Editor Lawrence Chen
Co-Writers Jerry C. Hsu  & Lawrence Chen
Producers: Jonathan Hsu & Lawrence Chen
Composer Eric Hölljes
Cinematography by Tinx Chen and Lawrence Chen

2023 Pan African Film and Arts Festival Film Guide

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Over 150 films from 40 countries, in 19 languages, including 50 World and 22 North American premieres!

Today, the PAFF announced its full lineup for its upcoming in-person festival Feb. 9-20, 2023. Now in its 31st year, the Festival is returning to the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and XD and the adjacent Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza will host its renowned fine art show featuring over 100 established and emerging fine artists and quality craftspeople from all over the Black Diaspora. This year’s film festival features over 150 films from 40 countries, in 19 languages, including 50 World and 22 North American premieres. Of the films selected for the Festival, 39% are helmed by female, queer or non-binary filmmakers.

The Festival film guide is available here.

Passes on sale now and can be purchased here.

Individual tickets go on sale on January 31, 2023.

 

View New Trailer: THE ELEPHANT 6 RECORDING CO. World Premiere DOC NYC 2022

Logo- The Elephant 6 Recording Co

Directed by: C.B. Stockfleth

Produced by: Lance Bangs (Jackass , Portlandia)

Edited & Produced by: Greg King (Other Music)

Executive Produced by: Rob Hatch-Miller (Other Music)

Starring: Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Apples in Stereo, Elf Power, Of Montreal, Beulah, The Gerbils, Dressy Bessy, The Minders, The Music Tapes, Great Lakes,  Elijah Wood, James Mercer (The Shins), Danger Mouse, David Cross and many more.

The film also features never-before-seen additional footage of the bands, shot by filmmaker Lance Bangs.

THE ELEPHANT 6 RECORDING CO. shares the unique inside story of the collective creative evolution behind the sounds of 1990s psychedelic rock bands Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Apples in Stereo-- the founding groups behind the Elephant 6 collective, as well as a host of other artists -- with inspirational resonance for today’s music makers, and music lovers everywhere.

Around 1985, a group of Ruston, Louisiana area high schoolers began experimenting with whatever random instruments and gear they could lay their hands on. Moving to other small college towns including Denver, Colorado and Athens, Georgia, their musical coming of age coincides with the new consumer availability of old-school 4 and 8 track recording technology and cassette tapes. Sharing like-minded sensibilities, influenced by past sounds and psychedelia, and with little to distract them, their efforts to create whole new musical worlds become the bands Olivia Tremor Control,  Neutral Milk Hotel and The Apples in Stereo and many more. While the collective grew to a natural breaking point, its founding members overcame obstacles and remained closely bonded, reuniting for tours and still collaborating today. 

THE ELEPHANT 6 RECORDING CO. provides insight into this revolutionary era of popular independent music in America, the defiant DIY spirit in music making, and championing the integrity of an authentic quest for artistic expressiveness over the more mainstream image of being a “successful” musician in our fame obsessed times.

C.B. STOCKFLETH is a filmmaker currently based in New Orleans, LA. He grew up in Central Kentucky and dropped out of high school. He eventually went to film school at Full Sail University in Orlando. For the last 20 years, he's worked as a commercial director and photographer mostly in Louisville, KY. He's made music videos and live concert videos for bands including the Apples In Stereo and the Olivia Tremor Control, and has directed uncountable regional commercials and corporate videos. He's won awards for some of them.

Feature Documentary, Running Time; 93 Minutes, USA

THE ELEPHANT 6 RECORDING CO.- SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/elephant6movie/
https://twitter.com/elephant6movie
https://www.facebook.com/Elephant6Movie
#Elephant6Movie

PR CONTACT:
Emma Griffiths (EG PR)
emma@eg-pr.com

The Key West Film Festival Runs November 16th -20th

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Jennifer Johnson Headshot.

2022 FESTIVAL RUNS NOVEMBER 16TH -20TH

Key West, FL October 18, 2022 — The Key West Film Festival announced today the recipient of its seventh annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design, honoring BAFTA nominated costume designer Jennifer Johnson.

Johnson's most recent artistry can currently be seen in Andrew Dominik’s Blonde (Netflix) starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe.

As part of the honor, Johnson will participate in a discussion of her work, to be moderated by Tomris Laffly of Variety. Ms. Johnson will accept her award in person at the festival, which will feature a pre-recorded presentation by Oscar nominated Costume Designer, Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis.

Costume Designer JENNIFER JOHNSON received the 2018 Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Contemporary Film for her work on I, Tonya (KWFF, 2017), for which she also received a BAFTA Award nomination. She most recently designed the costumes for Andrew Dominik’s Blonde.

Among her additional feature film credits are Miranda July’s Kajillionaire, Mike Mills’ 20th Century Women (KWFF, 2016) and Beginners as well as David Slade’s Hard Candy, Chloe Sevigny’s directorial debut short film Kitty and Yorgos Lanthimos short film Nimic. For television, Johnson designed costumes for director Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2018 series Too Old To Die Young. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Johnson also has collaborated on commercials and/or music videos with directors such as Spike Jonze, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, Terrence Malick  and John Hillcoat, among others.Her advertising and editorial clients include Nike, Mui Mui, Mercedes,Apple, Purple Fashion, I-D, Vogue, VICE and New York Times. A native of New Mexico, Johnson was born in Taos and raised in Las Cruces. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

Dr. Landis, a former Costume Design Governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and an Academy Award®-nominee, presented the first annual Golden Key for costume design in 2016 to Mary Zophres, who went on to receive an Oscar® nomination for her work in La La Land, and to the last five year’s honorees: Mark Bridges, who won the 2018 Oscar® for Best Costume Design for The Phantom Thread; and Alexandra Byrne, who’s work in Mary Queen of Scots was recognized by an Academy Award nomination; Arianne Phillips, nominated for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; Francine Jamison-Tanchuck for  her artistry in Regina King’s One Night in Miami; and Paul Tazewell, whose costume design of West Side Story garnered him an Oscar nomination as well.

Michael Tuckman, Director of Programming of the Key West Film Festival, commented"What makes “Blonde” such an enthralling movie is the artistry of the costume design that Jennifer Johnson creates, allowing the actors to truly embrace and develop their characters. She has been doing this at the highest level for two decades now, as audiences at the Key West Film Festival have seen in official selections that featured her work previously like “I, Tonya” and “20th Century Women.” We are so honored that she will be able to join us and share the wisdom behind her craft with festival-goers.”

Visit kwfilmfest.com for full program information – which will be announced on October 18, along with a schedule of events and travel and lodging details.

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 16-20, 2022. Venues include the San Carlos Institute, The Studios of Key West, Williams Hall and The Lawn at The Perry Hotel.

A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.

For more information, visit our website:https://kwfilmfest.com

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival
#kwff #kwff2022

2022 KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES GOLDEN KEY AWARDS FOR CHRIS COOPER AND ELEGANCE BRATTON 

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 Both Adaptation, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its release, and awards contender The Inspection to screen at festival

FESTIVAL RUNS NOVEMBER 16TH -20TH

Key West, FLOctober 12, 2022 — The Key West Film Festival announced today the recipients of its annual Golden Key Awards to be presented to screen legend Chris Cooper and Elegance Bratton, director of the upcoming release The Inspection.

This year’s Golden Key Award for Career Excellence goes to Chris Cooper, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the seminal Florida film, Adaptation.  To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of the film, Cooper will attend in person and participate in a conversation with David Fear, Senior film editor of Rollingstone.com. Prior to the film, the festival will also present  the World Premiere of the short film Nutsdirected by Cooper and starring both he and his wife, Marianne Leone. Susan Orlean, author of the novel The Wild Orchid on which the film was based, will present the award to Mr. Cooper via a pre-recorded speech at the Saturday night Awards Ceremony.

Past recipients of the award include Burt Reynolds, Marisa Tomei, Kimberly Peirce, Tom Skerritt, Lois Smith, Paul Verhoeven and Alan Cumming.

The Golden Key for Breakthrough Filmmaker, recognizing a director whose films will be seen widely in the future – will be given to Elegance Bratton, whose film The Inspection will be screened at the festival. The Inspectionwhich will be the Closing Night film at the New York Film Festival, will be released by A24 later this year. Last year’s inaugural recipient of this award was Clint Bentley, director of Jockey.

Following the screening, Bratton will join Eugene Hernandez, the newly appointed director of the Sundance Film Festival, for a pre-recorded conversation and award presentation.

Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper

CHRIS COOPER was recognized in 2003 with an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of ‘John Laroche’ in Columbia Pictures’ Adaptation, written by Charlie Kauffman (Being John Malkovich) and directed by Spike Jonze.  Cooper was also recognized for his performance in the film by numerous critics associations including the Broadcast Film Critics, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and Toronto Film Critics Association.

Cooper most recently wrapped Boston Strangler opposite Kiera Knightly for Disney/Hulu. During the pandemic he starred in and directed With/In opposite his wife Marianne Leone who also wrote the piece. Previous credits include the Focus Features & Plan B Entertainment political satire Irresistible alongside Steve Carrell and directed by Jon Stewart. He starred in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women  opposite Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson and Timothee Chalamet and the TriStar Pictures feature film A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood starring Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys.

Elegance Bratton Headshot by Josiah Rundles
Elegance Bratton Headshot by Josiah Rundles

ELEGANCE BRATTON  is an award-winning and boundary-breaking director, writer and producer. He began making films as a US Marine after spending a decade homeless. Bratton holds a BS from Columbia University (2014) and MFA from NYU Tisch Graduate Film (2019). As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, his work captures stories untold with an intention to show the universal power of our shared humanity. Bratton’s films have played in over 200 film festivals worldwide including Sundance, Outfest, BFI, Doc NYC, and BlackStar Film Festival. He made his television debut as the creator and executive producer of the Viceland television series My House. The 10-episode series was nominated in the category for Outstanding Documentary at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards. The series is currently available on Hulu. In 2021, Bratton won the Film Independent Truer Than Fiction Spirit Award which is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The recipient of this award also receives a significant grant and becomes a Film Independent Fellow. His nonfiction feature debut, Pier Kids made its television and streaming debut in August 2021 on PBS/POV. He was a Sundance 2020 Native Lab mentor, and a 2022 Outfest Screenwriting Lab mentor.

The Inspection his narrative fiction debut world premieres as the opening night film of the Toronto International Film Festival Discovery section and closes the New York Film Festival 2022.

Michael Tuckman, Director of Programming of the Key West Film Festival commented: "Chris Cooper’s resume over the last five decades is itself a chapter in film history. To be able to honor him, in conjunction with a screening of perhaps the most definitive Florida film ever made, is an honor beyond words, and we are thrilled that he and Marianne will be able to join us. The Inspection is a true showcase of cinema both breaking boundaries and claiming one’s voice, and the work behind the camera from Mr. Bratton establishes an artist who will drive cinema for years to come.” 

Visit kwfilmfest.com for full program information – which will be announced on October 18, along with a schedule of events and travel and lodging details.

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 16-20, 2022. Venues include the San Carlos Institute, The Studios of Key West, Williams Hall and The Lawn at The Perry Hotel.

A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.

 For more information, visit our website: https://kwfilmfest.com

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View Clip: Mill Valley Film Festival World Premiere of Extraordinary Documentary Feature Film “Finding Her Beat”

Finding Her Beat posterR15

The journey of “Finding Her Beat” reveals a collective dedication for these Taiko drummers to be recognized in their field...they are trying to right a wrong, as women have not been allowed their place on the taiko stage. This film follows the journey of five women bringing the art form into the current reality and bringing other women center stage with them. Struggling through personality clashes, illness and the clock, we see how much one person can make a difference as Jennifer takes the dream and plants it, waters it and it flourishes into one of the most inspirational concerts ever witnessed, let alone filmed.

“Finding Her Beat”
In the midst of a frozen Minnesota winter, a Japanese drum master and Korean adoptee from North Dakota join forces to assemble the world’s best Taiko drummers in a bold effort to claim a cultural spotlight that has historically been reserved only for men. Their rhythm revolution includes rock stars from the world of Taiko: Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Kaoly Asano, Chieko Kojima, Megan Chao-Smith, and Jennifer Weir. Through grueling rehearsals, Jennifer weaves together their disparate voices and styles. Vulnerability, pain, and joys are shared—and we quickly see the bonds of friendship form as these talented women navigate their way through differences in culture, age, language, and performing styles. As the clock ticks toward their first performance, it becomes clear that their story has become much larger than Taiko.

Director: Dawn Mikkelson
Cinematographer: Keri Pickett
Producer: Jennifer Weir, Dawn Mikkelson
Co-cinematography by Shiho Fukada
Caroline Mariko Stucky, Dawn Mikkelson
Music: Me-Lee Hay
Editors: Dawn Mikkelson, Sam Kaiser, Keri Pickett and Carrie Shanahan