More films announced for Sundance 2009. These films are playing out-of-competition. Also announced: this year’s Closing Film is the world premiere of Robert Stone’s Earth Days, a history of our environmental undoing seen through the eyes of nine Americans whose work and actions launched the modern environmental movement. PREMIERES To showcase the diversity of contemporary independent cinema, the Sundance Film Festival Premieres section offers the latest work from American and international directors and world premieres of highly anticipated films. Films…

In a double-parter for BBC2, documentary institution Louis Theroux tags along with law enforcement officers in Philadelphia and Johannesburg – two of the worlds most notorious crime cities.  The film’s soundtrack was scored by Shooting People member Nick Ryan. In the interview below, Shooting People’s Lee Kern speaks to Louis about the shows, his production team and how he has evolved over the years as an interviewer and onscreen persona. LK: I’ve just seen your film following the Phildelphia police…

Sundance has just announced its competition line-up. I’m already getting excited about discovering new work and big congratulations to everyone who got in. But just remember that Sundance is not the whole world, it’s not even the whole indie world. Whether or not your film was accepted you should read this piece by Eugene Hernandez in indieWIRE. It’s full of good level-headed practical advice on how to think about festival strategy. Of course if your film got in you should…

This is doing the rounds at the moment and it’s bloody great. Watch it and spread the love (not hate!). See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Shooters A terrific effort from new Encounters Festival Director Liz `Safe Hands’ Harkman, Creative Director Mark `Did You Hear The One About …’ Cosgrove, and team. Encounters `08 was inspiring, popular, fun and beautifully organised. Shooting People was there in two capacities. First, we sponsor the DepicT! Audience Award. Shooters Luca Paulli and Rebecca Manley won that for their fine `Breaking the Mould’. You can watch it here. Luca and Rebecca win a Life Membership to Shooting People, a copy…

This is the second and final part of a 2 part post on non-theatrical distribution by Rachel Gordon, a freelance marketing/distribution consultant specializing in the niche and educational usage of documentary films. Something to be aware of that many filmmakers don’t consciously think about when starting to get their work out is that it will take some time for your film to “hit” a place in the non-theatrical market – often up to a whole year.  You can’t count on…

The Court 13 collective who made Glory at Sea say they “strive to bring down the hegemony of that hollow feeling” and they certainly do just that with this gorgeous film. Watch it online now. It will make your heart thump with love and hope and humanity. Glory at Sea is on the latest issue of Wholphin. If you don’t already subscribe to Wholphin then sign up now. F*ck the recession. It’s films like these that get you through.

This is the first part of a 2 part post on non-theatrical distribution by Rachel Gordon, a freelance marketing/distribution consultant specializing in the niche and educational usage of documentary films. Disclaimer – This article assumes that you are self-distributing and not working with a distributor.  The narrative below is solely from the perspective of educational, also known as “non-theatrical,” usage of film and does not refer to theatrical or home video distribution. Independent documentary filmmaking continues to rise after several…

Today, December 1st, is World Aids Day. I’ve been watching lots of films about HIV/AIDS recently and reading a lot on the subject too. As a result I’ve been pressing copies of Stephanie Nolan’s 28 Stories About AIDS in Africa and Elisabeth Pisani’s The Wisdom of Whores into the palms of my friends who are probably thinking “Oh piss off you sanctimonious bore” but I promise you these books are anything but. SnagFilms are marking the day with two films…