Based on an article in The New Yorker by best-selling writer Jonathan Franzen, Emptying the Skies chronicles the poaching of migratory birds in southern Europe and introduces us to the intrepid volunteer squad of bird-lovers trying to stop it. Trapped at “pinch points” near the Mediterranean, these globetrotting songbirds are considered culinary delicacies and reap big […]
Q&A: Carlos Agulló on Plot For Peace
October 4, 2013 by
A true story of intrigue, Plot for Peace traces the behind-the-scenes diplomatic maneuverings to release Nelson Mandela from jail in South Africa in the 1980s. For the first time, heads of state, generals, diplomats, master spies and anti-apartheid fighters reveal how Africa’s front line states helped end apartheid. One man stood at the center of […]
Q&A: Matt Winn on ‘The Brunchers’
October 4, 2013 by
A couple (Tom Burke and Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer) tries to tackle the London brunch scene, but getting a seat is harder than deciding what to eat. Matt Winn’s short film The Brunchers screens before the feature film Tasting Menu at HIFF 2013. Please describe your film in your own words. Matt Winn: The […]
Q&A: Whitney Ransick on ‘Misfire: The Rise and Fall of The Shooting Gallery’
October 4, 2013 by
The Shooting Gallery was one of the premier production companies for independent film in the 1990s, responsible for art-house hits like Laws of Gravity, Sling Blade, and You Can Count on Me. After the success of fellow alum Hal Hartley, a cabal of grads from SUNY Purchase decided to start a fast-paced company with a […]
Q&A: Director Ava Warbrick on ‘Stephanie in the Water’
October 4, 2013 by
Professional surfer Stephanie Gilmore won her first world championship event at age 17 on a day off from high school. Over the next four years, she led the sport, claiming back-to-back world titles as the undisputed champion. Stephanie’s talent seemed untouchable—until a violent turn of events abruptly ended her winning streak. This intimate documentary portrait […]
