TCHOUPITOULAS, director Bill Ross

 

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“Tchoupitoulas” is a story of the New Orleans night. It is a visually exhilarating and aurally immersive record of one night in the many lives of a thriving nocturnal populace. Three young boys act as our wide-eyed conduits to a parade of entertainers and revelers as they dance through the lamp lit streets and doorways of the Crescent City. From dusk to dawn, from Rampart to the river, we explore the lives and locales of one of the world’s most unique cities. In moments, vignettes, performances, and exchanges, “Tchoupitoulas” is a kaleidoscopic odyssey into another side of New Orleans. Bill and Turner Ross (45365) join us for a conversation on the joys of childhood, filmmaking and New Orleans nightlife.

“It is alive with the risk and curiosity of youth, and unapologetic in insisting that the pursuit of fun can be a profound and transformative experience.” – A.O. Scott, New York Times

 “Without offering much context or addressing obvious social issues, it’s an evocative tribute to its setting and to childhood innocence.” – Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue

THE LAW IN THESE PARTS, director Ra’anan Alexandrovicz

 

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THE LAW IN THESE PARTS explores the four-decade-old Israeli military legal system in the Occupied Territories.  Since Israel conquered the territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the 1967 War, the military has imposed thousand of orders and laws, established military courts, sentenced hundreds of thousand of Palestinians, enabled half a million Israeli “settlers” to move to the Occupied Territories and developed a system of long-term jurisdiction by an occupying army that is unique in the world. The film explores the unprecedented and little-known story through testimonies of the military legal professionals who were the architects of the system and helped run it in its formative years. Director Ra’anan Alexandrovicz sits down for an interview on the challenges of bringing this layered and complex story to the screen.

“A must-see documentary about the questionable laws, enforcement and justice at work in Israel’s occupied zones, where an apparent double standard and parallel system are imposed on the densely packed Palestinian occupants in the name of security.” – Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International

 “By keeping its focus admirably tight, the sober and sobering Israeli documentary “The Law in These Parts” presents a devastating case against the occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Investigating the legal system in the occupied territories, the film is fundamentally an inquiry into justice. It makes a forceful argument: Justice and the occupation are incompatible.” – Rachel Saltz, The New York Times

ANY DAY NOW, director Travis Fine

 

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Winner of 10 Audience Awards at film festivals around the country and starring the amazing Alan Cumming, ANY DAY NOW is a powerful tale of love, acceptance and family. When a teenager with Down syndrome (Isaac Leyva) is abandoned by his mother, a gay couple (Alan Cumming and Garret Dillahunt) takes him in and becomes the loving family he’s never had. But when their unconventional living arrangement is discovered by authorities, the men are forced to fight a biased legal system to save the life of the child they have come to love as their own. Inspired by a true story from the late 1970s, ANY DAY NOW touches on legal and social issues that are as relevant today as they were 35 years ago. Director Travis Fine joins us for a conversation on the making of his “ripped from the headlines” story of courage and love.

In Los Angeles area with TRAVIS FINE:  Friday, December 14 following the 7:15 show at the Sundance Sunset Cinema; Saturday, December 15 following the 7:10 show at the Playhouse 7; Sunday, December 16 after the 1:40 show at the Town Center 5 and following the 4:20 show at the Monica 4.

 “Cumming’s performance [is] a perfect balance of flamboyance, humanity, vulnerability, paternal love and righteous anger…it’s the best work he’s done to date.” – David Fear, Time Out NY

 “Powerful! Superb! Depictions of custody battles have become a cinematic staple, but few register with the heartfelt emotion of Any Day Now.” – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

KING KELLY, director Andrew Neel

 

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King Kelly Trailer

King Kelly (LOUISA KRAUSE) is an aspiring Internet star who performs webcam stripteases. When Kelly’s car – filled with illegal narcotics that she must deliver – is stolen by her bitter ex-boyfriend Ryan (WILL BRILL) on the 4th of July, Kelly and her best friend Jordan (LIBBY WOODBRIDGE) embark on an epic whirlwind of drugs, sex, violence, and mischief-making as Kelly tries to reclaim what is hers. Kelly’s biggest online fan, a wayward State Trooper (RODERICK HILL), joins the journey as the night spirals into chaos. Made entirely from camera-phone footage, King Kelly is a sensational journey through hedonistic American youth culture and the YouTube generation. Director Andrew Neel (Alice Neel, The Feature and New World Order) stops by to talk about this South by Southwest Film Festival favorite and wild ride through a changing American landscape.

“A ferocious indictment of Generation Me.” – IndieWIRE

“Neel has hit upon a compelling reason for the found-footage gimmick: to indict a narcissistic generation who think their phones make them royalty.” – Matt Singer, Time Out New York