IDFA 2009's opening night ceremonies on November 19, were dedicated in part to honoring esteemed American documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.
Presenting IDFA's first-ever lifetime achievement award, festival founder Ally Derks presented Wiseman with an award statuette, a gold lapel pin and huge bouquet of flowers, and praised not only his cinematic accomplishments, but his generosity towards his subjects, other filmmakers and IDFA -- where he has presented his films, headed juries and given masterclasses, as well.
Wiseman celebrates his 80th birthday on January 1, 2010 and is currently engaged in the production on a new film. His most recent documentary, La danse - Le ballet de l'Opéra de Paris premiered in 2009 and is being shown as one of ten films in IDFA 2009's Wiseman Retrospective, which also includes screenings of eight of the filmmakers other classics, including Titicut Follies (1967), High School (1968), Hospital (1969), Basic Training (1971), Welfare (1975), Model (1980), Missile (1987), Near Death (1989) and Belfast, Maine (1999). The selection of films for the retrospective was made by Wiseman, himself.
Wiseman has directed and produced dozens of documentaries, which often focused on social relations within American institutions. He is regarded as one of the major exponents of Direct Cinema.
In addition to the films in the Wiseman Retrospective, IDFA 2009 is presenting some 50 American-made documentaries, including two Mchael Moore films (Capitalism: A Love Story and Bowling For Columbine), as well as Crude, We Live in Public and several of the American-made documentaries on the 2010 Oscars short list, including The Cove and Food, Inc.. In all, about 300 documentares will be screened during the 10 day festival.
By the way, I am attending IDFA for the first time, honored to be serving as a juror for one of the festival's competitive categories. So stay tuned for the list of winners -- who receive 10,000 Euros, along with their trophy statuettes. The films being screened are very good, so making choices will be tough.
(PHOTO: IDFA logo. Courtesy IDFA).
Comments
IDFA is really amazing, despite the cold and rain this time of the year. Hope you enjoy everything. There are only two short films from Brazilian filmmakers this year: “Acontecencias” and “Notas sobre o Outro”. Maybe you have the chance to check them. Thanks for the details of Wiseman`s award.