AFI DOCS Unveils Full Slate Of 2014 Films

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AFI DOCS announced today its full slate of films for the 2014 festival, which runs from June 18-22 in Washington, DC, and Silver Spring, MD.  The festival will showcase 84 films representing 28 countries, including four World, three U.S. and eight East Coast Premieres.  AFI DOCS opens with HOLBROOK/TWAIN: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY and closes with LIFE ITSELF.  The festival's annual AFI DOCS Charles Guggenheim Symposium will honor Academy Award^®-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE).  Committed to bringing artists and our nation's leaders together, AFI DOCS will do this through Catalyst Screenings that include in-depth, expanded discussions with filmmakers, issue experts and policymakers.  Launching in this 12th edition of the festival is the Filmmaker Engagement Program - professional development for documentarians. 

Catalyst Screenings include THE HOMESTRETCH (DIRS Anne de Mare, Kirsten Kelly) THE INTERNET'S OWN BOY (DIR Brian Knappenberger), IVORY TOWER (DIR Andrew Rossi) and THE NEWBURGH STING (DIRS Kate Davis, David Heilbroner).  The subjects of these films – homeless youth seeking an education, the state of the Internet, skyrocketing college tuition and government overreach - will be examined in panel discussions immediately after the screenings.

The Filmmaker Engagement Program will comprise events for festival artists to connect effectively to our nation's leaders, film industry decision-makers and cultural-thought leaders.  Select sessions of this program will be open to the at-large community of documentary filmmakers.  Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

As mid-festival films, Spotlight Screenings include E-TEAM (DIRS Katy Chevigny and Ross Kauffman), FREEDOM SUMMER (DIR Stanley Nelson) and GLEN CAMPBELL…I'LL BE ME (DIR James Keach).  Films by notable documentarians include HAPPY VALLEY (DIR Amir Bar-Lev), LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM (DIR Rory Kennedy) and POINT AND SHOOT (DIR Marshall Curry).

This year's program also includes five films with the involvement of seven alumni of the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles, including DINOSAUR 13 featuring Kristin Donnan Standard (AFI Class of 1988); HEAVEN ADORES YOU by Associate Producer West McDowell (AFI Class of 2010); THE LION'S MOUTH OPENS by Co-Producer Sabrina Doyle (AFI Class of 2012) and Co-Producer/Cinematographer Nick Higgins (AFI Class of 2002); WE ARE THE GIANT by Line Producer Diane Becker (AFI Class of 2006) and Archival Coordinator Erikka Yancy (AFI Class of 2006) and WHEN THE GARDEN WAS EDEN by Executive Producer Doug Ellin (AFI Class of 1992).

"AFI DOCS 2014 is a true celebration of documentaries and storytellers," said Christine O'Malley, Interim Festival Director.  "While there are serious thought-provoking issues presented artfully in the films, there are equal amounts of whimsical and entertaining experiences.  What they all do, however, is inform and hopefully inspire different types of change - policy, perspective or heart."

2014 AFI DOCS DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL PROGRAM:  CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL SLATE

OPENING AND CLOSING NIGHTS AND SPOTLIGHT SCREENINGS:

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

• OPENING NIGHT:  HOLBROOK/TWAIN: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY
  DIR Scott Teems.  USA.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

• SPOTLIGHT SCREENING:  E-TEAM   
  DIRS Katy Chevigny, Ross Kauffman.  USA.

Friday, June 20, 2014

• SPOTLIGHT SCREENING:  GLEN CAMPBELL…I'LL BE ME  
  DIR James Keach.  USA.
• GUGGENHEIM SYMPOSIUM:  This year, the Symposium celebrates Alex Gibney, one of the most significant documentarians of our time.  His films include CATCHING HELL (2011), ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (2005), MEA MAXIMA CULPA: SILENCE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD (2012), NO END IN SIGHT (2007), Academy Award^® -winning TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE (2007) and WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS (2013).
• OUTDOOR SCREENING:  SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS   
  DIRS Will Lovelace, Dylan Southern.  USA.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

• CLOSING NIGHT:  LIFE ITSELF   
  DIR Steve James.  USA.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

• SPOTLIGHT SCREENING:  FREEDOM SUMMER   
  DIR Stanley Nelson.  USA.

PLEASE VISIT WWW.AFI.COM TO VIEW FULL SLATE OF 2014 FILMS

AWARDS:

Audience Awards will be bestowed upon films based on the results of ballots cast by festival attendees after theater screenings.  The winners of the Audience Awards for Best Feature and Short will be announced on Monday, June 23, 2014.

SPONSORS:

Official Sponsors:  American Airlines, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Stella Artois
Major Sponsors:  Amtrak, CYM Media & Entertainment, The DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development, Indie DCP, Maryland Film Office
Featured Sponsor:  Sony
Supporting Sponsors:  Clyde's Restaurant Group, Downtown Silver Spring, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, International Documentary Association, Mercury, Uber, Video Labs
Major Media Sponsor:  The Washington Post
Official Media Sponsors:  Variety, The Wall Street Journal, WHUT Howard University Television
Affiliate Media Sponsors:  IndieFlix, Indiewire, Sunnylands, WAMU 88.5 – American University Radio, WTOP, YELP
Official Airline of the American Film Institute: American Airlines
Official Hotels of AFI DOCS:  Hotel George, Hotel Monaco

Generous individual and foundation support is provided by:

Official Festival Underwriters: Stephanie and Hunter Hunt
Major Festival Underwriters:  Embrey Family Foundation, The Fledgling Fund 
Festival Underwriters: Tod and Sally MacKenzie, Nell Minow

SOURCE American Film Institute