The June 19 premiere of The Reckoning at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival was a great success. The film played to a packed house full of luminaries, including many of the people featured in the film like Nuremberg prosecutor Ben Ferencz, attorney Christine Chung and the deputy prosecutor for prosecutions of the ICC Fatou Bensouda. Read more about the film on the Miller-McCune website.
If you’re in New York, head on over to Brooklyn to check out the BAMcinemaFEST. They’ve got some great documentaries lined up over the next two weeks, including Reporter by POV filmmaker Eric Daniel Metzgar (Life.Support.Music., POV 2009 and Chances of the World Changing, POV 2007). Eric follows New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof as he reports on the humanitarian crisis in the Congo.
BAMcinemaFest runs through July 2nd at BAM. Learn more about the festival on the BAM website.
The American Museum of Natural History’s Margaret Mead Festival is the longest-running showcase for international documentaries in the United States. We’ve just gotten notice that they have extended the deadline for their 2009 call for entries. Entries must be postmarked by June 26, 2009. The festival accepts a range of non-narrative works including: documentaries, animation, indigenous media, experimental works, and essay films. The theme for this year’s program is Silk Road, but they will review films on all topics.
Learn more about the Margaret Mead Festival and get all the details on submitting work on the Mead website.
Yesterday, the Senate passed an historic resolution to apologize for slavery and discrimination towards the nation’s black citizens. Viewers who watched Katrina Browne‘s Traces of the Trade last summer may remember James DeWolfe Perry as one of the cousins who retraced their ancestors’ route along the Triangle Trade. Check out his commentary on the filmmaker’s website and on his blog.