The 2009 edition of Documentary Fortnight, MoMA's annual showcase of nonfiction film and video, features more than fifty selections from across the globe. Several of this year's films focus on the American political landscape and zeitgeist, including the opening night film, The People Speak, which is inspired by Howard Zinn's books A People's History of the United States and Voices of a People's History of the United States (co-authored with Anthony Arnove). Others tackle topics as varied as the tradition of marriage (Bachelorette, 34), nuclear missiles in North Dakota (Minot, North Dakota), and abandoned labor towns in California (California Company Town). The program also includes rare glimpses into life on war's front lines (Iraqi Short Films); inside a dictatorship in Turkmenistan (Shadow of the Holy Book); into the forefront of the anti-aging movement (Life Extended); and inside the latest developments in robotics (Mechanical Love). An evening of new work made on Super 8mm film exhibits the vibrant resurgence of small-format film technology, while programs of films by young people of color and documentaries from Taiwan and Iran highlight important new voices and innovative techniques. Many of the directors will be present to introduce and discuss their films.
Organized by Sally Berger, Assistant Curator, Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art; William Sloan, independent curator; and Sara Rashkin, filmmaker and independent curator. Special thanks to our collaborating partners: Planet in Focus: International Environmental Film & Video Festival; Taipei Cultural Center and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts; The Moth; Third World Newsreel; and Women Make Movies.
Related Film Screenings
Upcoming
Past
Opening Night Screening and Performance
Minot, North Dakota
2007. USA. Angelika Brudniak, Cynthia Madansky. 18 min.
California Company Town
2008. USA. Lee Anne Schmitt. 76 min.
New Documentaries Shot on Super 8mm
Podul De Flori (The Flower Bridge)
2008. Romania/Germany. Thomas Ciulei. 87 min.
Still Point
2008. USA. Alfred Guzzetti. 15 min.
Acidente (Accident)
2006. Brazil. Cao Guimarães, Pablo Lobato. 72 min.
Super, Girls!
2007. China. Jian Yi. 73 min.
Shadow of the Holy Book
2007. Finland. Arto Halonen. 90 min.
Third World Newsreel Program 1
Third World Newsreel Program 2: New Work from New Filmmakers
The Soldier's Tale
2007. France. Penny Allen. 52 min.
My Daughter the Terrorist
2007. Norway. Beate Arnestad. 58 min.
Exotic Exoticism: Plant Wars
2007. Taiwan. Asio Liu. 60 min.
Shonenko
2006. Taiwan. Liang-Yin Kuo. 60 min.
The Secret in the Satchel
2007. Taiwan. Lin Tay-jou. 52 min.
The Moth: Stories from Behind the Scenes of Nonfiction Film
me broni ba (my white baby)
2008. Ghana/USA. Akosua Adoma Owusu. 22 min.
Barcelone ou la mort
2007. France. Idrissa Guiro. 49 min.
A Horse Is Not a Metaphor
2008. USA. Barbara Hammer. 58 min.
Diving Women of Jeju-do
2007. USA. Barbara Hammer. 30 min.
A Horse Is Not a Metaphor
2008. USA. Barbara Hammer. 58 min.
Diving Women of Jeju-do
2007. USA. Barbara Hammer. 30 min.
Alchemy
2007. Great Britain. Eva Bakkeslett. 22 min.
Eeuwige Moes (Eternal Mash)
2007. The Netherlands. Catherine van Campen. 53 min.
Bachelorette, 34
2008. USA. Kara Herold. 30 min.
The Face of a Woman
2008. USA. Andrew Irvine. 60 min.
Iraqi Short Films
2008. Argentina. Mauro Andrizzi. 90 min.
Life Extended
2008. Sweden. Mats Biggerts, Lars Bergstrom. 57 min.
Mechanical Love
2007. Denmark. Phie Ambo. 79 min.
Where Do I Belong?
2007. Iran. Mahvash Sheikholeslami. 68 min.
The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins
2008. New Zealand. Pietra Brettkelly. 95 min.
Mental
2008. Japan. Kazuhiro Soda. 135 min.
The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins
2008. New Zealand. Pietra Brettkelly. 95 min.
Neither Memory nor Magic
2007. USA. Hugo Perez. 57 min.
An Evening with John Gianvito
Sync or Swim
2008. USA. Cheryl Furjanic. 90 min.
Brooklyn DIY
2009. USA. Marcin Ramocki. 75 min.