Goodbye to All That – Director Angus MacLachlan

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Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation) stars as a newly single dad navigating the good, the bad, and the weird of the 30-something singles scene in this whip-smart comedy. When his wife unexpectedly informs him that she wants a divorce, well-meaning but oblivious husband Otto Wall (Schneider) finds himself thrust back into bachelorhood. Cue a hilarious sequence of romantic encounters—from reconnecting with a former crush to online dating—as Otto searches for the real thing amidst a string of one night stands. Directed by the acclaimed writer of Junebug, this sexy farce co-stars Anna Camp, Heather Graham, Amy Sedaris, and Melanie Lynskey. Director Angus MacLachlan joins us for a conversation on his first feature film’s exploration of maintaining relationships, love, perceptions and modern dating.

For news and updates on Goodbye to All That go to: ifcfilms.com/films/goodbye-to-all-that

“Goodbye to All That” is very evenhanded in assessing its characters’ flaws, and it never sentimentalizes.” – Stephen Holden, New York Times

“The film’s tone remains playful — there are even some broad, laugh-out-loud moments involving a sex toy — but poignant little moments sneak in, hinting at darker, more troubling themes. “ – Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine / Vulture

“Goodbye To All That never dares to sentimentalize, but the performances and tones are so well played that the movie is tenderly wistful in all the exact moments.”– The Playlist

Winner of the Best Actor Award at Tribeca Film Festival, Paul Schneider.

The Barefoot Artist, Co-director Glenn Holsten and Daniel Traub

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Lily Yeh is a global artist who is fueled by a belief that art is a human right, and that artists can create a foundation for profound social change. Slight of frame, but large in spirit and vision, the 70-year-old artist was born in China, lives in Philadelphia, and now, as constant traveler, the world is her canvas. The Barefoot Artist explores two sides of Lily’s life that are connected parts of the same journey: her international ventures helping to heal weakened spirits in communities in North America, Africa, China, and India, and a personal journey within, to repair her own fractured family. To embrace the latter, Lily embarks on a trip to China to trace her father’s life, in hopes of resolving life-long guilt that was passed from father to daughter. The Barefoot Artist traces Lily’s evolution as an artist – from her first exposure to Chinese landscape painting as a young girl in China to the hauntingly beautiful memorial she designed to honor the victims of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. It shows her methodology for community building – using art as the foundation – which she has developed over many years as she has worked in impoverished communities around the world. Finally, it reveals the source of her quest, and the personal costs of a life committed to the public. Co-directors Glenn Holsten and Lily’s son Daniel Traub stop by Film School to talk about the life and times of a remarkable artist and healer.

For news and updates on The Barfoot Artist go to: barefootartistmovie.com/film

“”The Barefoot Artist” is an engaging portrait of Lily Yeh, a Chinese emigre to the U.S. who has made her major imprint creating collaborative art with residents in areas torn by war, poverty and other hardships.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety

“A remarkably restrained and intuitively beautiful portrait of the relationship between art, its audience and the sadness of both its inspiration and its creator.” – Daniel Walber, Nonfics

“A poignant documentary about the transformative power of art.” – Michael Rechtshaffe, Los Angeles

The Joe Show, Director Randy Murray

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Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the world’s most famous and entertaining law enforcement officer, knows that in today’s politically competitive world of instant fame, politicians need their time in the spotlight. And Joe loves the spotlight. Response time is compromised for screen time, credibility for celebrity and safety for soundbites. Joe’s desire for fame corrupts everything he stands for and the voters cheer as ratings soar. Eight years in the making, The Joe Show is a wildly entertaining yet important case study of the increasingly dysfunctional relationship between modern media, politics and law enforcement in America. It’s a tragi-comedy of historic significance. Can democracy survive when entertaining voters is more important then protecting them. Director Randy Murray stops by to talk about Sheriff Arpaio’sharsh law enforcement practices and their diminishing public support.

For news and update on The Joe Show go to: joeshowdoc.com

“An equally entertaining and infuriating overview of a very American self-made phenomenon.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety

“You begin to wonder where reality ends and Arpaio’s own world begins. (There doesn’t seem to be a lot of overlap.)” – Bill Goodykontz, Arizona Republic

John De Simio, Executive Vice President – Broadcast Film Critics Association

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John De Simio has worked nearly four decades in the entertainment industry, starting with various entertainment Public Relations agencies representing personalities, television shows such as “Happy Days”, “Laverne and Shirley”, “Mork and Mindy”, and “Taxi” as well as television and motion picture production companies. He later held the posts of National Publicity Director with Twentieth Century Fox and Senior Vice President with Castle Rock Entertainment. At the latter, he supervised all the company’s motion picture and television publicity campaigns, which included “When Harry Met Sally…” “City Slickers”, “Misery”, “A Few Good Men”, “Honeymoon in Vegas” and “Shawshank Redemption” among others, as well as the hit NBC series “Seinfeld”. He then shifted his career focus and now serves as Executive Vice President and Board member for the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA). John joins us to talk about BFCA’s Critic’s Choice award nominations and the live broadcast of the BFCA award show, Thursday, January 15^th on the A&E network.

Difret – Writer / Director Zeresenay Berhane Mehari

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Three hours outside of the city of Addis Ababa, a bright 14-year-old girl, Hirut, is on her way home from school when men on horses swoop in and kidnap her. The brave teenager grabs a rifle and tries to escape, but ends up shooting her would-be husband. In her village, the practice of abduction into marriage is common and one of Ethiopia’s oldest traditions. Enter then Meaza Ashenafi, an empowered and tenacious young lawyer. She arrives from the city to represent Hirut and argue that she acted in self-defense. Meaza boldly embarks on a collision course between enforcing civil authority and abiding by customary law, risking the ongoing work of her women’s legal-aid practice to save Hirut’s life. Based on a real-life story, DIFRET goes beneath the layer of polite social customs to explore an aggressively rooted patriarchy that perpetuates inhospitable conditions for women in Ethiopia and portrays the complexity of a country’s transformation toward equal rights, featuring the courageous generation that dares to own it. Writer / director Zeresenay Berhani Mehari joins us to talk about a story that challenges a culture of inequality.

For news and updates on Difret go to: difret.com

“A quiet and powerful drama.” Hollywood Reporter

“Deftly examines the issues facing women and girls in Ethiopia.” CNN

“Nuanced and inspiring.” Cultural Weekly

Pioneer, Director Erik Skjolbjaerg

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PIONEER is set in the early 80’s, at the beginning of the Norwegian Oil Boom. Enormous oil and gas deposits are discovered in the North Sea, authorities aim to bring the oil ashore through a pipeline 500 meters deep. Petter, a professional diver, is obsessed with reaching the bottom of the Norwegian Sea. Along with his brother Knut, he has the discipline, strength and courage to take on the world’s most dangerous mission. But a sudden, tragic accident changes everything. Petter is sent on a perilous journey where he loses sight of who is pulling the strings. Gradually, he realizes that he is in way over his head and that his life is at stake. Director and writer Erik Skjolbjaerg talks about his take on a brief but important era in Norwegian history and the challenge of working underwater and directing an international cast.

For news and updates on Pioneer go to: magpictures.com/pioneer

“A twisty tale of life and death under pressure.” – Variety

“Director Erik Skjoldbjærg’s film offers an amazing opportunity to experience the dark depths of the ocean, while paying homage to 1980s filmmaking.” – Under the Radar

“The underwater sequences stun and terrify – nothing says claustrophobia quite like two weeks in a pressurized diving bell with someone you can’t necessarily trust – and there’s almost as much moisture and terror on land to drive Petter round the bend.” – Ella Taylor, NPR

“A brooding psychological drama where everything that happens is open to multiple interpretations and figuring out who if anyone is on your side gets harder and harder to do.” – Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Boyhood, Director / Writer Richard Linklater

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Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason’s parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay’s Yellow to Arcade Fire’s Deep Blue. BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting. It’s impossible to watch Mason and his family without thinking about our own journey. Linklater joins us for a conversation on the remarkable journey and artistic growth that making Boyhood became.

For news and updates on Boyhood go to: ifcfilms.com/

“Boyhood” is a stunt, an epic, a home video, and a benediction. It reminds us of what movies could be and – far more important – what life actually is.” – Ty Burr, Boston Globe

“As a film that dares to honor small moments and the life they add up to, “Boyhood” isn’t just a masterpiece. It’s a miracle.” – Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Writer / Comedian / Producer Carol Leifer

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Carol Leifer began her career as a stand up comedian in such well know Manhattan comedy clubs as the Comic Strip, Catch a Rising Star and the Improv. Her “big break” came when David Letterman unexpectedly showed up at the Comic Strip and caught one of her performances. His visit led to twenty-five appearances on NBC’s “Late Night with David Letterman.” Carol has also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Dr. Katz, Politically Incorrect, Hollywood Squares, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Her hosting duties have included four seasons of A&E‘s Caroline’s Comedy Hour, as well as guest stints on Talk Soup and Later. She has also written for numerous Academy Awards shows. Carol joined the Seinfeld writing staff during its fifth season (1993–94), and wrote six episodes for the show between then and its seventh season (1995–96). She has been dubbed “the real Elaine,” the character having been partially based on her. After Seinfeld ended, Carol served as a writer and supervising producer on HBO’s critically acclaimed “The Larry Sanders Show. ” Despite her success in television, Carol has remained a fixture on the stand up circuit. “I’ve played every two-bit laugh shack across this great country of ours,” she quips. One highlight of Carol’s roadwork includes opening for Frank Sinatra at Bally’s Las Vegas. He was quoted after the show as saying “I wish my mother had been that funny. I wouldn’t have had to work so hard.” Carol joins us to talk about her second book, “How to Succeed in Business without Really Crying…Lessons From a Life in Comedy” her career and hosting the 30^th Annual International Documentary Association Award show here in Los Angeles.