Tag: Social Issues

Arts, Movie Review

A Review of “Anatomy of Wings” : A Thing of Beauty and a Joy Forever

By Vernon Nickerson Won’t regret, can’t forget what they did for love. I am besotted by this film, as witness my first thoughts after watching “Anatomy of Wings” for the first time. On the wings of love, they fly like an eagle. “Anatomy of Wings”, masterfully helmed by educator and director Kirsten D’Andrea Hollander in collaboration with her entire production crew, is an example of … Continue reading A Review of “Anatomy of Wings” : A Thing of Beauty and a Joy Forever

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Movie Review

Well, Hello, Workhorse Queen! – A Review Of A New Film From Angela Washko

By Vernon Nickerson Angela Washko Director/ Writer/ Producer masterfully leads an ensemble Drag Queen village cast to raise a fabulous film extravaganza, “Workhorse Queen” ! If there’s a niche in the LGTBQ+ community for a beautiful, powerful, profound and inspirational and moving tale perfectly pitched, have I got a “Workhorse Queen” and her family to meet that need. Masterfully, tastefully, and damn freakishly satisfying, too! … Continue reading Well, Hello, Workhorse Queen! – A Review Of A New Film From Angela Washko

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Movie Review

A Review Of SEASPIRACY: A Secret Plan To Do Harm To the Ocean’s Ecosystems

By Vernon Nickerson Seaspiracy, which I am defining for purposes of this review as a secret plan to do harm to the ocean’s ecosystems comes out on Netflix in a time when a flood of revelations across multiple disciplines has rushed forth in the vacuum created by the absence of Donald J. Trump’s shrill science denial ignorance. If the cruelty and savage slaughter towards sentient … Continue reading A Review Of SEASPIRACY: A Secret Plan To Do Harm To the Ocean’s Ecosystems

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Arts

AXS FILM FUND LAUNCHES WITH A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING CREATORS OF COLOR WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD

Grants of up to $10,000 Per Project Starting in 2021 AXS Film Fund was founded to support documentary filmmakers and non-fiction new media creators of color with disabilities. AXS Film Fund seeks to bring visibility to this underrepresented community of creators by intervening and providing opportunities that they may not otherwise have with mainstream funding structures. Grantees will be supported in their endeavors to tell … Continue reading AXS FILM FUND LAUNCHES WITH A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING CREATORS OF COLOR WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD

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Arts

“SOFTIE”: For God, for Kenya, and for Family- Boniface Mwangi’s story aims for NO ONE Left Behind

By Vernon Nickerson From writer/director Sam Soko comes a powerful documentary of an underdog/longshot Kenyan political candidate that is anything but soft. The hero of “Softie”, photojournalist-cum-candidate for prime minister Boniface Mwangi may be soft-spoken, but his actions are bold, loud, and in-your-face. In a nation-state that has known continuous internal conflict since the fifth Century through two world wars, Idi Amin and Donald J. … Continue reading “SOFTIE”: For God, for Kenya, and for Family- Boniface Mwangi’s story aims for NO ONE Left Behind

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Arts

Sundance Institute Announces Chief Executive Officer Keri Putnam To Step Down

Sundance Institute CEO Keri Putnam has informed staff and the Board of Trustees that she will be stepping down later this year after more than ten years with the Institute. Under her leadership, the renowned media and arts non-profit has seen a decade of extraordinary growth and impact. The organization is uniquely positioned as a leading global advocate for independent artists, diversity in media, freedom … Continue reading Sundance Institute Announces Chief Executive Officer Keri Putnam To Step Down

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Arts, LGTQ, Movie Review

Film Review of “In France Michelle Is A Man’s Name”

By Vernon Nickerson How many fathers have introduced/given their transgendered children things as adults as if they were children who were never allowed to say no thanks and or reject the offer? Writer-Director Em Weinsten highlights in a taut short film the primary issue of this dynamic where something is demanded from another without asking permission or without determining if a “gift” was what was … Continue reading Film Review of “In France Michelle Is A Man’s Name”

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Movie Review

Film review of Critically Acclaimed “Cut Throat City”

By Vernon Nickerson What would happen if a diverse POC cast made a 21st century redux of Les Miserables? It would be “Cut Throat City”. From director RZA and writer P.G. Cuschieri comes the explosive “Cut Throat City”, the story of four boyhood friends from New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward who return after Hurricane Katrina to decimated homes, no jobs, and no help from FEMA. … Continue reading Film review of Critically Acclaimed “Cut Throat City”

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Arts

Mother’s Day Memories- A Film by Bill Hoversten

By Vernon Nickerson The power of film to illuminate and educate the audience shines throughout “Mother’s Day Memories”, a short feature film currently selected for eight international film festivals. The tight ensemble cast hits all the right notes to convey the slow erasure of the multiple lives impacted when a parent is losing their memories due to Alzheimers. Bill Hoversten packs every word, every gesture, … Continue reading Mother’s Day Memories- A Film by Bill Hoversten

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Arts

2021 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

Top Prizes Go To CODA, Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), Flee, and Hive  CODA, Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), Hive, Writing With Fire, and Ma Belle, My Beauty Win Audience AwardsPresented by Acura The 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s Awards Ceremony took place tonight, hosted by actor and comedian Patton Oswalt, with jurors presenting 24 prizes … Continue reading 2021 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

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Arts

“TRIBES” Illustrate Storytelling At Its Best Along With Being The Best Live Action Short

A subway car robbery goes off the rails when three hoodlums argue over which passengers they’re willing to jack. “Tribes” is a critically acclaimed short film addressing tribalism from the viewpoint of an African American, an Arab American and an White American who are trying to rob a subway car.  The complexity of the situation becomes apparent when the robbers have a hard time deciding … Continue reading “TRIBES” Illustrate Storytelling At Its Best Along With Being The Best Live Action Short

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Arts

AVA DuVERNAY JOINS AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF OSCAR CONTENDER ‘A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION’ NEW SHORT DOCUMENTARY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-DOCS, CO-DIRECTORS BEN PROUDFOOT, KRIS BOWERS

NEW VIDEO RELEASED OF DuVERNAY & BOWERS IN-CONVERSATION FILM TO HAVE FESTIVAL DEBUT AT SUNDANCE 2021 TOMORROWFULL FILM NOW STREAMING ON NYTIMES.COM The new short subject documentary A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION tells the story of virtuoso jazz pianist and film composer Kris Bowers as he tracks his family’s lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Directed by … Continue reading AVA DuVERNAY JOINS AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF OSCAR CONTENDER ‘A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION’ NEW SHORT DOCUMENTARY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES OP-DOCS, CO-DIRECTORS BEN PROUDFOOT, KRIS BOWERS

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Arts

“FINDING YINGYING” Movie Review

By Liisa Cohen Director Jiayan “Jenny” Shitakes takes us on a gripping and intimate journey of devastating loss and the struggle of a grieving family to exist. Yingying Zhang, a 26-year-old Chinese student, comes to the U.S. to study. In her detailed and beautiful diaries, the aspiring young scientist and teacher is full of optimism, hoping to also be married and a mother someday. Within … Continue reading “FINDING YINGYING” Movie Review

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Poetry

The State Of The World

By Joanna Panayi We are built with a reliance.It is in our bonesWe act in our nature.We learn in our nurture.To fight for our thrones.We conquer the planet.Yet, they do not get it.They continue to thread it.As we continue to spread itWe need to work together.Do not speak if you do not act.Do not act if you cannot speak.These are our livesNot only yoursHisHersEveryone.Your intolerance … Continue reading The State Of The World

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Arts, Movie Review

“NASRIN” Movie Review

By Liisa Cohen The opening frames had my heart pounding, the ending frames had me in tears. NASRIN is a deeply moving, heart breaking and all too real story of Nasrin Sotoudeh, an attorney, human rights activist and political prisoner in Iran. With the back drop of modern day Iran, director/ writer/producer Jeff Kaufman and cinematographer “anonymous” risked their lives to tell the story of … Continue reading “NASRIN” Movie Review

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Arts

Sundance Institute Selects Latest Slate of Documentary Fund Grantees

23 Projects from 21 Countries to Receive Unrestricted Support The latest cohort of Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grantees, was announced, comprise 23 nonfiction film projects from 21 countries of production. Unrestricted grant support, totaling $540,000, will benefit the projects across various production stages from development to post-production.  Grants are made possible by The Open Society Foundations and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. … Continue reading Sundance Institute Selects Latest Slate of Documentary Fund Grantees

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Arts

A Short Sabbatical

  Because of what is going on in the world and the chaos it has brought The Art Of Monteque will be taking a short sabbatical. It is important that we honor our contributors and stuff with time to to recoup and support their partners, families,  and community. Some of  our contributors have lost loved ones,  others are dealing with economic troubles while some are … Continue reading A Short Sabbatical

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Arts, Movie Review

“Days of the Whale” Review: A Relevant Message For Today

By Joanna Panayi Director Catalina Arroyave Restrepo was born in Medellín, Colombia. In 2010 she co-funded Rara, an-art house producing company based in Medellín. Her debut film, Days of the Whale, won two screenplay awards, the most important Colombian production fund (FDC), and had its world premiere at the 2019 SXSW film festival. It will have a U.S. virtual cinema release on July 24, 2020. Days … Continue reading “Days of the Whale” Review: A Relevant Message For Today

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Arts, Movie Review

Rachel Mason Reopens a World of Memories and Family Dynamics in her Netflix Hit ‘Circus of Books’

By Mike Szymanski When I first met Rachel Mason, I was unprepared for the wave of personal emotions, memories and love that would overcome me after first being touched by this talented performance-artist-turned-filmmaker. Her touching family story is told in “Circus of Books” which thankfully has eclipsed “Tiger King” as Netflix’s go-to odd documentary. It’s a story about her family, but it was also about … Continue reading Rachel Mason Reopens a World of Memories and Family Dynamics in her Netflix Hit ‘Circus of Books’

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