Collective Eye Blog & News

Collective Eye takes a closer look at Gay Rights, Women in the Arts and The Future of Orangutans in three fascinating new films.

Out in the Silence dramatically illustrates filmmaker Joe Wilson’s journey of negotiating the morally charged issue of sexual orientation and the potential for building bridges in the midst of opposition.

Who Does She Think She Is? comes from the producing team that won an Academy Award for Born into Brothels, and examines some of the most pressing issues of our time: parenting and work, partnering and independence, economics and art.

The Disenchanted Forest looks at the animals we call o-rang-u-tans, which literally means “forest persons” in the Malay and Indonesian languages. They are the only great apes native to Asia and they face extinction.

Collective Eye is pleased to announce two new films to our catalog:

Between Earth and Sky , is a poetic journey into the lives of three, young Iraqi refugee artists, struggling to find hope through art.

Freedom on the Fence, which details the evolution of the unique role posters played in the social, political and cultural life of Poland.

The film recently played at the Museum of Modern Art as well as festivals around the country.  For more info – The Village Voice , to read an interview with CRIT click here

Gangs are society’s ultimate devil figure. They symbolize transgression and embody the deepest fears of middle class citizens. Few filmmakers have dared or been able to get behind the headlines to confront the human reality and complexity of street gangs in urban America. Challenging stereotypes, this documentary gives voice to the street youths and reveals their underground culture. Here is an intricate web of symbols and passions, territory and brotherhood, honor and all to often, death.

“The Heart Broken in Half reminded me of Spike Lee’s best work; as a documentary it taught me about street life in today’s Chicago—and by analogy about many of America’s inner-cities.” – Richard Schechner, Professor of Performance Studies, New York University

““Queen of the Sun”: Local talent worked on this fascinating new documentary from Taggart Siegel, the Portland-based director of the “The Real Dirt on Farmer John.” Siegel circled the globe to interview the world’s most passionate beekeepers, and their testimonials make this an irresistible romance about the essential role that honeybees play in maintaining earth’s fragile ecosystem. It’s also a cautionary tale with a hopeful outlook, as eco-friendly trends signal a revival of bee colonies decimated by pesticides and “monoculture” crop farming. Siegel is scheduled to attend. — J.S.

Read more of the Seattle International Film Festival reviews here

“Their wild, entertaining, and thoughtful documentary on global bee health and welfare. Local note: cellist Jami Sieber did the score. (They’re working on a theatrical release, so stay tuned. I vote for “Mead Night” at Central Cinema.)  -Sunbreak, Seattle

Read the full article here

Visit Seattle International Film Festival for more

Queen of the Sun won the Documentary Channel Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature – Honorable Mention at the Nashville Film Festival.

Find out more about the film at Queenofthesun.com

Queen of the Sun had its first sneak-peek screening in Portland, Oregon to a packed house of bee enthusiasts, beekeepers and friends.  Thanks to everyone who came out to support the film.  The event served as a fundraiser for finishing funds as well as donations to Spikenard Bee Sanctuary. For more information please visit www.queenofthesun.com

Collective Eye is pleased to announce the addition of two very powerful films to our catalog.

The Sundance-winning feature Ballot Measure 9 is the chilling chronicle of an historic gay-rights battle in Oregon. As the anti-gay violence escalates, the film evolves into an exposé of hate politics that crosses lines of race, religion, and sexual identity.  This galvanizing classic continues to resonate for a new generation.

Bolinao 52 is the story of the Vietnamese Boat People.  One boat with 110 passengers escaped from Vietnam. After 37 days of drifting only 52 survived. More than 30 years after, no major film or television program tells their stories.    Bolinao 52 is a long-silenced voice, an unspoken legacy of the Vietnam War.

Women and the Waves director, Heather Hudson, was recently featured on the Pepperdine University website to highlight “Girls in the Curl”—an event celebrating female surfers.

Check out the podcast here.

Collective Eye presents THE WOMEN AND THE WAVES!

The Women and the Waves is a documentary surf film that explores the lives of female surfers who, through the decades, have chosen to paddle head first into the male dominated sport of surfing and found a place of their own.

Collective Eye presents RETURN TO TARAWA!

Academy Award nominated actor Ed Harris narrates Return to Tarawa, the story of Leon Cooper, a US Marine veteran, and his emotional struggle with his past and his return to “Bloody Tawara.”

Collective Eye is excited to announce new films recently added to our catalog.

FARMINGVILLE is an award-winning documentary focusing on illegal immigration and the ‘American Dream.’

A DREAM IN DOUBT is an immigrant story of one man’s odyssey from persecution in India to embracing America as his homeland, that proves that courage and hope have the power to overcome hate.

Journey with Brazilian filmmaker Denise Zmekhol to the heart of the Amazon rainforest in search of the indigenous children she photographed fifteen years ago and their continuing struggle in CHILDREN OF THE

AMAZON.