The outstanding Los Angeles-based Cinefamily (which, as noted on their website, is "devoted to finding and presenting interesting and unusual programs of exceptional, distinctive, weird and wonderful films") is partnering with yours truly and Cinema Eye to launch a brand new nonfiction film series, What's Up, Docs?
The first four nights of the program will be Thursdays this month, kicking off this week with "A Night with TVTV", a rare reunion of the pioneering, San Francisco-based collective that, in large respects, introduced the comedic documentary form. Cinefamily will screen TVTV's 1974 classic LORD OF THE UNIVERSE - which took cameras inside the Houston Astrodome for a gathering of followers of 16-year old, Guru Maharaj Ji - followed by a panel discussion of the original members.
As a special bonus to this event, Cinefamily will celebrate Oscar Sunday with TVTV LOOKS AT THE OSCARS from 1976, which starred Lily Tomlin "in a dual role as a fictional hausfrau who catches the awards from her midwestern home, and as herself, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Robert Altman's NASHVILLE".
For the rest of March, Cinefamily will screen to some of this year's Cinema Eye nominees, starting off with Jessica Oreck's BEETLE QUEEN CONQUERS TOKYO on March 11, Bill and Turner Ross' 45365 on March 18 and a special John Maringouin night on March 25 with a double feature of BIG RIVER MAN & RUNNING STUMBLED.
BEETLE QUEEN received the first Cinema Eye Spotlight Award at ceremonies in New York on January 15. 45365 and BIG RIVER MAN were both nominated for three Cinema Eye Honors this year - 45365 for Debut, Cinematography and Editing & BIG RIVER MAN for Direction, Production and Original Music Score.
In addition, BEETLE QUEEN and 45365 are both nominated for the Truer Than Fiction Prize at Friday's Spirit Awards (along with Natalia Almada's EL GENERAL). RUNNING STUMBLED was nominated for the same award in 2008.
For film trailers and tickets to What's Up, Docs?, visit the Cinefamily website.
So glad you are doing this in LA!
Posted by: Helen | March 01, 2010 at 09:50 PM