Filmmaker Catharine Axley seeks stories of empowerment through subjects that defy expectations, and the lesser-known but remarkable story of George Attla certainly qualifies. Axley’s film ATTLA, which won Best Feature Documentary at the American Indian Film Festival, looks at the charismatic Alaska Native dogsled racer who, with one good leg and fierce determination, became a legendary sports hero …
Filmmaker Alex Jablonski and his filmmaking partner Khalil Hudson had quite the arduous, smoke-filled journey to make the film Wildland. The documentary premieres on Independent Lens Monday, Oct. 29. Alex told us that Wildland started with a question: How do young men grow up? “We always wanted to tell a story about wildland firefighters but it was …
Craig Staggs is the lead animator for the little animation studio that could, Minnow Mountain, based in Austin, Texas, also the home base of filmmaker Keith Maitland. Staggs’ company did the brilliantly layered animation for Maitland’s film TOWER. Of that film which tells the story of the heroes and victims who were on the University of …
The “making of” documentary has become a lively subgenre of nonfiction filmmaking, thanks in large part to the explosion of home video and the proliferation of cable channels in the past few decades. Once a purely promotional creation to run in theaters or on entertainment TV shows, the mix of behind-the-scene peeks, production footage, and …
Watch this exclusive video chat with Laura Poitras (who won an Oscar for her documentary CitizenFour), journalist Betty Medsger and filmmaker Johanna Hamilton, talking about 1971, Edward Snowden, and protecting anonymous sources.
Super piece by Adam Benzine on Let the Fire Burn‘s extensive, exhaustive archival process, with insight from filmmaker Jason Osder: “Archive masterclass: Making Let the Fire Burn‘.” The film had its television premiere on Independent Lens in May.
Jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott, the subject of the Independent Lens documentary (and 2004 IL Audience Award Winner) Jimmy Scott: If Only You Knew, passed away June 12 at the age of 88. Scott’s life and career was a real rollercoaster, which started with him singing in the 1940s with Lionel Hampton’s band, falling out of sight until the …
It’s the 29th anniversary of the MOVE bombings, and for some the memories of those awful events still linger all these years later. After you watch Jason Osder’s film about the tragedy, Let the Fire Burn, read this overview of what became of some of the people (and places) involved.
Enjoy this collection of additional videos and links from the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, who are the center of Reuben Atlas‘s new Independent Lens documentary Brothers Hypnotic. Follow this horn-playing family as play everywhere from New York subways to a rainy Belgian concert, bringing the funk wherever they go.
New York-based producer, director, and “non-practicing lawyer” Reuben Atlas has filmmaking in the bloodlines and music frequently on his mind, so it’s no surprise he wanted to combine the two interests when running across the all-in-the-family Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. The result is Brothers Hypnotic. Read our Q&A with Atlas about the film.
Filmmaker Cristina Ibarra talks about returning to her native Texas for her new film Las Marthas, where the Martha Washington Society debutante ball reflects Laredo’s unique demographics, history, and location on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The team behind the acclaimed, labor of love documentary Blood Brother talk about making such a personal, moving film that captured their friend’s literal and spiritual journey to India. From how they all first met to addressing questions about Rocky’s religious perspective, it’s an intimate glimpse behind the film.
