IndiePix Launches DISARM With Successful Event Despite the Snow

With NY1 local news announcing a massive snow storm about to hit New York on Monday March 2nd our hearts sank! We had been planning a DVD launch party for DISARM, the powerful documentary film that addresses the global problem of antipersonnal mines, to coincide with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) 10 year anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty at the United Nations. With the participation of the World Policy Institute and over 200 delegates from around the globe we pulled up our snow boots and carried on as planned.

The event took place at Scandinavia House, the headquarters of The American-Scandinavian Foundation, in their state-of-the-art screening room on Park Avenue. Promptly at 6pm the delegates started to arrive for the reception - and we need not have worried about the weather because we were almost sold out! The filmmakers -- Mary Wareham (part of the team that spearheaded the movement to secure the international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel mines in 1997 and in New York to attend the UN from New Zealand) and Brian Liu (co-director and musician/DJ/graphic designer visiting from Washington DC) were relaxed and looking forward to the event. The speakers took their seats for the panel, which was expertly moderated by Mary and included Ambassador Claudia Blum, Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN, Ambassador Mona Juul, Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN, and Stephen Goose from Human Rights Watch. Unfortunately Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, who was also scheduled to take part, was delayed in Denver due to the storm and could not attend. But the panelists were extremely informative and discussed the impact of the treaty on their countries and the overwhelming work that still needs to be done to have a mine-free world. We wrapped up the evening with IndiePix Head of Marketing Liz Ogilvie moderating the filmmaker Q&A, a lively conversation that continued out in the lobby before all ventured back into the snow.

IndiePix Announces the Multi-Platform Release of Family Detention Documentary THE LEAST OF THESE, Premiering at SXSW

IndiePix is thrilled to join partners SnagFilms, The Cinema Guild and the South By Southwest Film Festival in announcing the premiere of Clark Lyda, Jesse Lyda, and Marcy Garriott's riveting documentary THE LEAST OF THESE. A powerful expose on the T. Don Hutto Family Detention Center in Texas, where immigrant families and those with pending asylum requests are subjected to prison-like conditions, the film makes it's premiere on Monday, March 16th, at the Alamo Ritz in Austin, Texas. Simultaneous availability online through SnagFilms streaming widget technology, on Festival DVD and Download-to-Own with IndiePix, and as an educational resource for colleges, libraries and institutions through The Cinema Guild, ensures that this important yet oft-ignored issue will receive the attention and the viewership it deserves. Visit SXSW for schedule and ticketing information, click here to pre-order the DVD, or http://theleastofthese-film.com/ to learn more about the filmmakers and the issues discussed in the film.

Team IndiePix Descends on Austin for SXSW '09!

The annual South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival is here with screenings, parties, trade shows, panels and events running from March 13th through the 21st. IndiePixers Robert Alexander, Ryan Harrington and Jason Tyrrell will be on hand for all the activity, and to support the premiere of THE LEAST OF THESE. Monday, March 16th is the day to circle on your calendar. Interested in film funding? Come see Ryan moderate the Deciphering Funding panel, featuring John Sloss from Cinetic Media, Anne del Castillo from P.O.V. and Julie Goldman from Cactus Three at 11AM. Concerned about immigration, human rights and social justice? Then attend the premiere of THE LEAST OF THESE at 11AM at the Alamo Ritz. The film will be followed by an incredible Q&A, featuring the co-directors, a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union, and two families who experienced firsthand life at the T. Don Hutto Detention Center. After the film, IndiePix and the producers are hosting a press conference and reception at the beautiful Old Pecan Street Café, just a few doors down from the theater. (Interested in attending? Email Charlie@indiepix.net with your request.) Then join Jason, alongside producer Marcy Garriott and Rebecca Bernhardt from the ACLU for another panel, the Mini-Metting - Connecting to Audiences that Care: Filmmakers, Distributors and Activists Can Work Together. Some events require a festival badge, so make sure to visit http://www.sxsw.com for more information.

Also of note -- IndiePix friend and ally, Austin's Reversal Films will throw their annual mixed media party The ATX Emerge on Sunday, March 15th. Reversal Films, currently in post on the highly anticipated indie SKATELAND, organizes this event to bring together the best talent in Austin with artists currently on the national stage. Last year's ATX Emerge brought LA hip-hop heavyweights The People Under the Stairs to the stage, alongside Austin stalwarts Belaire (one of the subjects of the upcoming documentary THE INDEPENDENT CULTURE PROJECT) and Sunset, and New York's own Gangi. The '08 party rocked over 900 celebrants, and was covered by major media outlets across Austin. This year's party promises 9 more incredible acts, as well as an interactive media room, and the same welcoming attitude. Visit the official site for location and RSVP's, and be sure to visit IndiePix in the party's media room for giveaways and sneak peaks of IndiePix's SXSW premiere THE LEAST OF THESE on display. Thanks as always to Nick Jayanty and Vic Moyers of Reversal for inviting IndiePix along for the fun!

Cinema Eye News: Voting for Audience Choice Award Begins and Some Excellent Presenters are Confirmed

This year's Cinema Eye Honors for nonfiction film again allows nonfiction film lovers from all over the world to choose their pick of the most outstanding achievement of the form. On March 10th voting will open up via a secure server and continue almost up until the day of the ceremony, March 29th. The winner will be announced by one of the several documentary luminaries during what is sure to be a lively and heartwarming event at midtown's classy Times Center. Though the official announcement of presenters and honorees will follow in a week, there are numerous exciting and entertaining locked in to hand out the fabulous awards, which we will also celebrate into the night at a nearby venue. In addition, guests will be greeted by a musical performance from one of the nominated film's composers.

The nominees for Audience Choice are: AMERICAN TEEN, ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD, GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON, MAN ON WIRE, TROUBLE THE WATER, UP THE YANGTZE, and YOUNG @ HEART. Make sure your voice is heard by voting here. For more information on the event, go to Cinema Eye Honors.

Special Report from the Berlin Film Festival

The red carpet was rolled out on February 5, 2009 to celebrate the 59th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival and European Film Market. IndiePix was represented there for the first time, alongside over 19,000 other film professionals from around the globe. Coinciding with the festival is The European Film Market (EFM), the commercial centerpiece of the festival and one of the largest and most important film trade fairs in the entire world, which expanded this year to a second venue. Booth after booth of films sales companies sold their goods alongside film commissions from different countries touting their tax incentives, and packed both the Martin-Gropius Bau (MGB) and the first and second floors of the nearby Marriott Hotel. The festival market provided insight to lives and different cultures and served as the perfect venue to connect with producers, distributors and representatives from far away countries.

The Berlinale is in essence a "working" festival that covers an enormous, even intimidating 680 films. Critics hailed this year's line-up as a mixed bag, however the reviews and the failing economy didn't stop the public from attending screenings - most of which were sold out by the festival's half way point.

IndiePix Studio's head Ryan Harrington took in a few screenings in between a sea of meetings including a work-in-progress screening of "The Shock Doctrine" by Michael Winterbottom, based on the book by Naomi Klein. Winterbottom won the Berlinale Silverbear three year's ago for "The Road to Guantanamo". This film looks at the current global economic crisis, which Klein refers to as "disaster capitalism", with a "ripped from the headlines" approach and footage that was shot as late as February 2009. One can't help but look at the similarities between this and the IndiePix release of "The End of America". Another screening was "In the Electric Mist" by Bertrand Tavernier - starring Tommy Lee Jones, John Goodman, and Peter Sarsgaard. Based on a best-selling novel, Bertrand Tavernier's film tried to incorporate too many elements from the book - leaving many of the characters underdeveloped, story lines unexplored and resulting in a fractured and convoluted mess. Tommy Lee Jones' voiceover unecessarily adds content to a film that already feels too long. The acting is superb - John Goodman stands out as a Louisiana crime boss and Peter Sarsgaard shines as an alcoholic hollywood star. Also screening was The A&E IndieFilm's Sundance hit "The September Issue" directed by R.J. Cutler, which chronicles Anna Wintour and her team at Vogue as they plan the annual edition of the magazine that truly serves as the crux of the fashion world. The film is a great ride and Wintour rises above "The Devil Wears Prada" box that the media has placed her in.

While the film sales didn't seem to be as fruitful in previous years (buyers blamed this not on the economy, but on the quality of films present) the celebrity quotient was quite high. Tilda Swinton, Kate Winslet, Gael Garcia Bernal, Clive Owen and Michelle Pfeiffer were just a few of the celebs to grace the Berlin festival goers with their sparkling presence.