At a reception Saturday evening, ArcLight Cinemas unveiled the winners of its Second Annual Documentary Film Festival, which took place the week of Monday, November 5 at the theater’s famed Hollywood location. The film “Open Heart” took home the grand prize title and award of $10,000, while four other category winners received $500 for extraordinary films ranging from a heartfelt comedy and biography of eccentric characters to films examining the current social and economic state of international affairs.
Directed and produced by Kief Davidson, “Open Heart” is the story of eight Rwandan children who leave their families behind and embark on a life-or-death journey to receive high-risk open-heart surgery in Africa’s only free-of-charge, state-of-the-art cardiac hospital, the Salam Center run by Emergency, an Italian NGO. Davidson adds the ArcLight Cinemas honor to his long list of awards, He received international fame from the award-winning feature-length documentaries, Kassim the Dream and The Devil’s Miner and two Emmy® nominations for his editing work with National Geographic and earned the International Monitor Award for Best Editing on the journalistic film, What’s News?.
ArcLight founded its annual film festival in order to offer independent filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talent among fellow film-enthusiasts. In its second year, more than 350 films from across the country were submitted, vying for the chance to participate in the Film Festival and hoping to receive the winning prize of $10,000. Finalist films were screened throughout the week before the winners were announced during ArcLight’s evening gala on Saturday, November 10. It was there, where all participants could gather to meet and socialize with industry luminaries and Festival judges, as well as celebrate the independent filmmakers.
“Based on the positive response from the film community in our inaugural year, we were very proud to make the documentary festival an annual occurrence,” said Gretchen McCourt, festival executive producer and executive vice president of ArcLight Cinemas. “ArcLight celebrates the love of film, and we want to thank all of those who participated this year, either by submitting a film, voting for their favorite films or attending the festival.”
Films were judged by a group of industry luminaries, including Lesley Chilcott, documentary producer, “Waiting for ‘Superman'” and “An Inconvenient Truth; Marjan Safinia: board of directors, International Documentary Association; Matt Holzman: director of programming development at KCRW, Host of Matt’s Movies; and Gretchen McCourt. The festival was programmed by Jonathan Josell: co-chair, ArcLight Documentary Film Festival.
From a heartwarming comedy about Ragtime piano players to examining the economic downturn of Greece, each of the category winners are compelling, as they are creative. The below category winners received a prize of $500, as well as represented during the ArcLight Cinemas reception.
“The Entertainers” (Winner in Entertainment Category)
The heartwarming comedy follows six piano players striving to win the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest. The Entertainers was directed and produced by Michael Zimmer
“Shelter Island” (Winner in Biographic/Historic Documentaries Category)
The story follows the amazing journey of Shelter Island resident and ‘outsider’ artist Harald Olson and his equally eclectic patron, Jimmy Olinkiewicz, a blue-collar gas station owner and father of an Autistic child, as they sell paintings alongside a picket fence to a major showing at a Chelsea art gallery in Manhattan. “Shelter Island” was directed by Michael Canzoniero
“La Source” (Winner in Social Issues Category)
Director Patrick Shen tells the story about a humble Haitian immigrant and his mission to create a source of fresh water for his village back home. The journey from Princeton to Haiti is detailed, and the continuing-but ultimately uplifting-struggle of a part of Haiti is brought to light
“Farming in Crisis?” (Winner in Short Documentary Category)
One man looks at the challenges faced in Greece caused by the economic downturn and its effects on agriculture, through the eyes of young farmers. “Farming in Crisis?” was directed by Haris Donias
About ArcLight Cinemas
ArcLight Cinemas, created by Pacific Theatres, represents an evolution in the movie going experience. ArcLight Cinemas with locations in Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, El Segundo and La Jolla, offers an unprecedented combination of technology, amenities, comfort, and customer service. Facilities include the historic Cinerama Dome (only at the Hollywood location) and state-of-the-art “black box” auditoriums as well as a café bar and a cinema-focused gift shop. Tickets can be purchased online without a fee and printed at home and at the theaters’ automated ticketing kiosks. For more information about ArcLight visit www.arclightcinemas.com.
