New films added to catalog!
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 adds Art films to Catalog!
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
Heart Broken in Half
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 receives great new reviews at SIFF!
““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 wins award at Nashville Film Festival!
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
Bee Journal from Taggart Siegel ~ New Zealand
I’ve been very fortunate meeting amazing beekeepers in the South Island of New Zealand. Many of the them come from a long line of beekeepers that go back over a hundred years. Some of the best organic honey comes out of New Zealand, especially the Manuka honey that is medicinally beneficial.New Zealand is a land where Colony Collapse Disorder hasn’t occurred, where bees are still thriving.
Bees in America are under siege with pesticides, genetically engineered crops and over breeding the queen. Bees are a barometer species and are telling us something important. All around the world Beekeepers are helping maintain healthy ecosystems with the millions of bees pollinating plants. Without the bees, future generations will not be able to bite into a delicious apple, or smell the aroma of a spring flower.
My first stop on my bee journey was Kakoura, a beautiful coastal, mountainous area where some of the best whale watching occurs in the world. Nick, a gracious certified organic beekeeper from Mountain Honey, took me in his bee truck up a Maunka forested valley to check his hives and the honey flow. It was an amazing sensation being around thousands of bees swarming around you and not having to worry (with a bee suit) about being stung.
The next day I filmed Warren Thompson, a beekeeper and sculptor. Warren says, “Art is a spiritual activity and bees really help feed that. The art of bee keeping becomes an art, not the money…It’s wonderful the way bees work with wax. Bees are a living medium that becomes a metaphor for me working with art.”Warren lives in the the high country of Hanmer Hotsprings with his wife, Elisabeth and their three daughters. Elisabeth says, “Warren’s bee hives are all healthy and they’re all well looked after. We have little dances around the bee hives when the Maunka honey comes in.” … Continue Reading