Documentary Film Events

Let’s face it: You have no chance of getting into the Oscars. But you can get into the International Documentary Association’s 27th Annual Nominees Reception, hosted by comedienne extraordinaire Lily Tomlin, on Wed., Feb. 18, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. There, you’ll get a glimpse of the documentary features and shorts up for Oscars this year and hear from the filmmakers, who usually have a tremendously passionate stake in the material -- because god knows they aren’t making any money – and create amazing works of art with true stories, meant to inform, inspire, incite emotion, or all of the above.

The nominated documentary features are:
Werner Herzog’s “Encounters at the End of the World” about a hidden society living in Antarctica
Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s “The Garden” about a community garden in South Central LA
James Marsh’s “Man on Wire” about high wire walker Philippe Petit
Tia Lessin and Carl Deal’s “Trouble the Water” about an aspiring rapper in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina
Ellen Kuras’ “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)” about the struggle of one family from Laos, filmed over 23 years

Wed., Feb. 18, 6:30 pm hors d’oeuvres and wine, 8 pm program: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills 90211
For tickets and info: http://www.documentary.org/reception09

Then DocuDay on Sat., Feb. 21, provides the unique opportunity to see all five features and four shorts, since most so rarely make it to the theater. Films run from 9 am to 11:55 pm (what happens to documentarians at midnight?), and all-day passes are available.
Sat., Feb. 21: Writers Guild of America Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills 90211
For tickets and info: http://docuday.eventbrite.com/