CIFF Selects at SPACE GALLERY

So if you don’t know already, we’re BIG fans of the Space Gallery in Portland, ME. Like us, they’re determined to provide local Maine audiences with fresh, cutting-edge documentary films that might otherwise be inaccessible to the public, or at least in the way films SHOULD be seen….on the big screen. Spearheaded by co-founder Jon Courtney, SPACE programs at least a few films each month, sprinkled in between some pretty amazing bands. And if you read this blog you’ll note that we just got back from T/F with the Maine entourage, several of whom have connections with SPACE. OK, getting to the point of the post. We are very excited to announce that we’ll be co-presenting a screening of one of the most acclaimed documentaries of 2009, OCTOBER COUNTRY on April 8th, 2010. This was one of our spotlighted films from last years CIFF and hosting filmmakers Mike Palmieri and Donal Mosher was a major highlight!

If you missed the films New England premiere in Camden, do yourself a favor and get to Portland’s Space Gallery for this screening. Since screening in Camden last fall the film has gone on to be nominated for a Gotham Award, Independent Spirit Award and several Cinema Eye Nominations. It also took home the BEST DEBUT FEATURE at the Cinema Eye’s this year and has been playing to overwhelming audiences all over the world!

AO Scott from the NYTimes says,

“fascinating… like a Joyce Carol Oates novel rendered as a documentary… at once personal and objective… the filmmakers are as sensitive to visual nuances as they are to details of behavior>”

Below is the trailer. Here are the event details.

Awards Season Ramping Up!

CIFF is over and snow has already fallen so that must mean its time for the award season to begin (despite it only being mid-October).  We expect lots of this years films to be among the many nominated in some form or another for one award or another.  IFP announced the nominations for their GOTHAM AWARDS today and a very special congrats to Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher for their nod.  OCTOBER COUNTRY was nominated for a Gotham Award – Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You.  We were honored to be able to present the New England Premiere of this acclaimed documentary and wish Donal and Michael the best of luck.

Two days ago AJ Schnack announced the 98 features eligible for the prestigious CINEMA EYE HONORS, which will be held in January in NYC ( an earlier date for the Awards’s Ceremony this year).  CIFF Founder and Director, Ben Fowlie has been asked to be on the Nominating Committee for the 2010 Awards.  Features will be whittled down and nominations will be announced in November at the Sheffield Doc Fest.  For more information, and a complete listing of this years films, visit AJ’s blog post here, or the Cinema Eye Honors site.  Going through the list of films reaffirms what an incredible year for nonfiction it was.  Thanks to all the filmmakers for making such incredible works and good luck!  We’ll have much much more on this event, leading up to the big night in January!