The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) announced the 10 documentaries selected for the 2017 IFP Filmmaker Labs, which will include Lucas Millard’s “Baato” and Juliane Dressner’s “Personal Statement.”
The IFP Filmmakers Labs is IFP’s annual yearlong fellowship for first-time feature directors. The creative teams of the selected films are currently attending the first week’s session taking place through May 26 at the Made in New York Media Center by IFP in Brooklyn.
The IFP Filmmaker Labs support first-time feature directors with projects in post-production, helping them complete, market and distribute their films. IFP Filmmaker Labs is now in its 13th year. The Documentary Lab is part of the suite of IFP Labs, including the Screen Forward Lab (for serialized content) and Narrative Feature Lab, which took place in April and May.
“The wide and continuing success of documentaries on multiple platforms demonstrate they are no longer for niche audiences nor uniform in style or format,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of IFP and the Made in NY Media Center. “Emerging non-fiction filmmakers need to be more prepared than ever to understand and compete in this expanding marketplace, and the Labs exist to help them build that foundation.”
Recent alumni of the IFP Documentary Labs include Jonathan Olshefski’s “Quest,” Jennifer Brea’s “Unrest” and Nanfu Wang’s “Hooligan Sparrow.”
The 2017 Lab Leaders include Jennifer MacArthur — producer on “Whose Streets?” — Jon Reiss, director and producer, and Jessica Wolfson, producer on “A Girl and a Gun.”
See below for the selected projects for the 2017 IFP Documentary Lab:
“The Area”
On the South Side of Chicago, an activist and a former gang member negotiate the meaning of community as a rail yard engulfs their neighborhood. David Schalliol (Director, Producer, DP), Brian Ashby (Producer, Editor), Peter Galassi (Editor)
“Baato”
Deep in the Himalayan mountains the first road is coming, and this new highway to China will forever change daily life for these Nepalis who live along its path. Lucas Millard (Director, Writer, Producer, DP), Kate Stryker (Director, Writer, 2nd Camera)
“¡Las Sandinistas!”
This feature documentary tells the disappearing story of the women who fought on the front lines in Nicaragua’s Sandinista Revolution and traces their continuing struggle for justice. Jenny Murray (Director, Writer), Sarah Winshall (Producer)
“Leave the Bus Through the Broken Window”
You went to Hong Kong to make a film about art — instead you made one about heartbreak, politics and getting lost in a shopping mall. Andrew Hevia (Director, Writer, Producer, DP), Carlos Rivera (Editor)
“Personal Statement”
Karoline, Christine and Enoch are high school seniors who want to go to college, and they are determined to bring their friends with them. They work as college counselors in their schools because many of their peers don’t have anyone else to turn to for help. Karoline, Christine and Enoch are fighting for the right to a better future, for themselves and for every single one of their classmates. Juliane Dressner (Director, Producer, DP), Edwin Martinez (Co-Director, DP, Editor), Beth Levison (Co-Producer)
“A Photographic Memory”
A daughter attempts to piece together a portrait of her mother, an avant-garde journalist and a woman she never knew. Uncovering the vast audio-visual archive Sheila Turner-Seed produced, including lost interviews with iconic photographers, the film explores memory, legacy and stories left untold. Rachel Elizabeth Seed (Director, Producer, DP), Danielle Varga (Producer)
“Shadow of His Wings”
“Shadow of His Wings” is a personal documentary about filmmaker Lucas’ love story with a young Ethiopian man in Addis Ababa before and after he must flee homophobic threats to become France’s first LGBT refugee from Ethiopia. Meanwhile, in the hopes of reconciling with his son, Lucas’ estranged Ethiopian father returns to Addis after nearly 45 years of exile. Against a backdrop of the global refugee crisis, the film intersects a departure and a return home through a distinctly intimate lens. Lucas Habte (Director, Producer, DP), Isidore Bethel (Writer, Producer, Editor), Tigist Schmidt (Producer)
Shirkers
In 1992, a mysterious American named Georges Cardona shot Singapore’s first indie road movie with a clique of teenage female film geeks, including Sandi Tan, then absconded with all the footage! 20 years later, the 16mm cans are discovered in New Orleans, sending Sandi, now a novelist in Los Angeles, on an odyssey in search of Georges’ vanishing footprints…and her own. Sandi Tan (Director, Writer, Producer, Co-Editor)
TransMilitary
Four transgender troops fight to change discriminatory policies banning their service while navigating societal stigma both before and after the ban is lifted. Gabe Silverman (Director, DP, Editor), Fiona Dawson (Director, Executive Producer), Jamie Coughlin (Writer, Producer)
We Are Not Princesses
In Beirut’s refugee camps, Syrian mothers, sisters, and wives process and express their circumstance by to standing up to patriarchal authority and performing an adaptation of Sophocles’ “Antigone.” Bridgette Auger (Director, DP), Itab Azzam (Director, Producer, DP), Sara Maamouri (Editor)
20 of Hollywood's Unforgettable Directorial Debuts
Dennis Hopper, "Easy Rider" (1969)
Dennis Hopper's anti-establishment, psychedelic road trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans started the independent film wave of the 1970s and is one of the best American films ever made according to the American Film Institute.
Neill Blomkamp, "District 9" (2009)
South African director Neill Blomkamp came out of nowhere when "District 9" was released in 2009. His sci-fi film, filled with strong undertones of race relations, guaranteed everyone in Hollywood knew his name by the end of the year.
Larry Clark, "Kids" (1995)
Called a "wake-up call to the modern world" by New York Times critic Janet Maslin, Larry Clark's debut film about city kids and the AIDS epidemic created intense reactions on both sides of the spectrum. Unfortunately, Clark would never receive the same kind of buzz for any of his future films.
Jean-Luc Godard, "Breathless" (1960)
Jean-Luc Godard helped kick off French New Wave cinema with "Breathless", which follows a petty criminal on the run with his American girlfriend. Outside of the then unique brand of story telling, Godard developed many revolutionary techniques while making the film.
Sidney Lumet, "12 Angry Men" (1957)
Watching 12 men sit in a room debating the outcome of a murder trial in real time has never been as thrilling as it was in the hands of Sidney Lumet, who would then capture a Oscar nomination for best director.
Wes Anderson, "Bottle Rocket" (1996)
Filmgoers were introduced to the unique sensibilities of Wes Anderson with the indie "Bottle Rocket." It also launched frequent Anderson collaborators Luke and Owen Wilson into national awareness.
David Lynch, "Eraserhead" (1977)
If Anderson's style is unique, David Lynch would have to be considered bizarre. Lynch unleashed his vision to the world with "Eraserhead," which chronicles a man's struggle to handle his life with his newly born mutant child.
The Coen brothers, "Blood Simple" (1984)Joel Coen is the only credited director for "Blood Simple," but it is well known that he and Ethan have always collaborated on their projects. Their tense thriller was definitely forshadowed what was to come from the prolific duo.
Behn Zeitlin, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" (2012)
Roger Ebert labeled Behn Zeitlin's first feature film a "remarkable creation" filled with "creative genius." Most people agreed as it became the indie darling of 2012 and received best picture and best director Oscar nominations.
Charles Laughton, "Night of the Hunter" (1955)
Originally overlooked when first released, Charles Laughton's "Night of the Hunter" is now a definitive classic featuring the iconic imagery of Robert Mitchum's tattoos of love and hate on his hands. Sadly, this would be Laughton's only film; he passed away in 1962.
Rob Reiner, "This is Spinal Tap" (1984)
Comedy master Rob Reiner struck gold his first time around with the rock mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap." With a script from Christopher Guest, Reiner helped craft one of the funniest movies of all time.
Judd Apatow, "The 40 Year Old Virgin"
Most of comedy's biggest stars got their start from one man, Judd Apatow. His first feature ushered in the era of gross-out comedy and helped create stars Steve Carell, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd.
John Huston, "The Maltese Falcon" (1941)
John Huston clearly had "the stuff that dreams are made of" as a director. "The Maltese Falcon" is considered one of the greatest film noirs ever made and ranks in the top 50 of AFI's 100 greatest films list.
Steven Soderbergh, "Sex, Lies and Videotape" (1989)
Winning the Palme d'Or from the Cannes film festival for your first film is quite the feather in your cap. Steven Soderbergh's breakout movie made a splash both across the pond and in the States.
Quentin Tarantino, "Reservoir Dogs" (1992)
Tarantino instantly became the coolest filmmaker in Hollywood with "Reservoir Dogs." The memorable dialogue, infusion of music and pop culture, and violence made "Dogs" memorable and quickly set him apart in Hollywood's directors pack.
Mike Nichols, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966)
Adapting a famous broadway play should have been a daunting task for a first time filmmaker, but Mike Nichols handled it spectacularly. He was nominated for best director, but didn't end up winning one of the film's 5 Academy Awads.
John Lasseter, "Toy Story" (1995)
The legend of Pixar began with "Toy Story" and the guiding hand of John Lasseter. Lasseter would direct the first three Pixar films, but it's his first effort that has had the longest shelf life.
Sam Raimi, "The Evil Dead" (1981)
Sam Raimi's large cult following got behind him right from the get go with "The Evil Dead." His low-budget, gorey, horror film received wide praised and was called an instant classic.
Cameron Crowe, "Say Anything" (1989)
The era of teen movies in the 1980s ended with one of its best. Cameron Crowe's "Say Anything" has been labeled by Entertainment Weekly as the greatest modern romance, and the John Cusack stereo scene is recognizable across the pop culture landscape even by those who haven't seen the movie.
Orson Welles, "Citizen Kane" (1941)
It's pretty hard to top yourself when your first film has been heralded as the greatest American film ever made. Orson Welles turned the film industry on its head with "Kane" and set a nearly impossible mark for first time directors to aspire to.
1 of 20
Which filmmakers have grabbed moviegoers attention and affection since their very first frame?
Dennis Hopper, "Easy Rider" (1969)
Dennis Hopper's anti-establishment, psychedelic road trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans started the independent film wave of the 1970s and is one of the best American films ever made according to the American Film Institute.
