Bermuda Docs Announces Film Festival Line Up

Bermuda Docs has announced the line up of films to be presented at the upcoming Bermuda Documentary Film Festival, set to be held from April 17 through April 20 in the Tradewinds Auditorium at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute [BUEI].

A spokesperson said, “An award-winning film about the never-before-told intrigue behind the end of apartheid in South Africa and a hilariously entertaining film about a beloved music and show business insider featuring Michael Douglas will screen on the opening night of the four-day Bermuda Documentary Film Festival.

“Plot for Peace, the winner of five international awards, will screen at 6.00pm on opening night. It tells the true story of shadowy businessman Jean-Yves Ollivier – alias “Monsieur Jacques” – who used his extensive contacts in the region to bring peace to southern Africa, leading to the end of apartheid and the release from prison of Nelson Mandela. As the President of South Africa, Mandela bestowed honours on Monsieur Jacques.”

Official “Plot for Peace” trailer:

“Showing at 8.15pm, also on opening night, Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon, is about the larger-than-life music and show business figure who managed top acts, was boyfriend to Sharon Stone, and is friends with the Dalai Lama. His rollicking story is told in the film by his pals, who include Michael Douglas, Alice Cooper, Willie Nelson, Sylvester Stallone, Anne Murray, and many more. The film is the directorial debut of Mike Myers.

“The opening night of the festival features two hugely entertaining films, one for its incredible story of the high-stakes intrigue behind the end of apartheid, and the other because it is a very funny film about a music and Hollywood insider who has lived the ultimate show business life,” said festival director Duncan Hall.

“The festival will also features Oscar-shortlisted God Loves Uganda, winner of multiple festival awards, about the role that the American evangelical movement has played in Uganda, where American missionaries have been credited with both creating schools and hospitals and promoting dangerous religious bigotry.”

Official “God Loves Uganda” trailer:

“Also showing is Our Man in Tehran, the real-life Argo tale about the ‘Canadian Caper’, which saw Canadian ambassador to Iran Ken Taylor and his embassy staff spirit six American diplomats out of the country during the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979. The film won the Audience Award at the Victoria International Film Festival.

“The Moo Man is a gentle and poignant film about maverick organic farmer Stephen Hook and his unruly herd of 55 cows, filmed over four years on the Pevensey Levels in East Sussex, England. The film was nominated for Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.

“Sundance 2014 selection Last Days in Vietnam, by director Rory Kennedy, is about the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War as North Vietnamese forces close in on Saigon and some of the few Americans remaining in the city engage in unsanctioned and often makeshift operations to help South Vietnamese colleagues escape the country.

“The Final Member is a side-splittingly funny documentary about a legendary Icelandic Cassanova and an eccentric American, who both offer to help Sigurdur Hjartarson with his efforts to add a human element to the Iceland Phallological Museum, the first museum to feature a collection of mammalian male members.”

Official “The Final Member” trailer:

“Jackie Stewart: Weekend of a Champion is the recently restored and updated film produced by Roman Polanski profiling the Formula One champion as he prepared for and raced in the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix. In a dramatic postscript, Polanski and Stewart meet up 40 years on and discuss the sport, both past and present.

“Red Obsession, the winner of the Australian Academy Award for Best Documentary, is a stunningly shot and wildly entertaining documentary that chronicles the history and changing nature of the French wine industry.

“Ai Weiwei: Fake Case is an award-winning film by director Andreas Johnsen profiling Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei and his ongoing battles with Chinese authorities. The film picks up where Alison Klayman’s film, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (which also featured at Bermuda Docs) left off.

Evergreen: The Road to Legalisation in Washington, award-winning documentary about the process leading up to the legalisation of possession of recreational marijuana in the state of Washington.”

Official “Evergreen: The Road to Legalisation in Washington” trailer:

“Tickets to Bermuda Docs go on sale on Friday, April 4 at bdatix.bm, Pulp & Circumstance at Washington Lane, and Fabulous Fashions at Heron Bay Plaza, or by calling 232-2255.

“Bermuda Docs is presented by Kia Motors and sponsored by Stella Artois, BELCO, Bermuda Commercial Bank Limited, CellOne, and the Bermuda Arts Council. The festival’s host hotel is the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.”

The festival schedule is as follows:

Thursday, April 17

• 6.00pm – Plot for Peace
• 8.15pm – Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon

Friday, April 18

• 6.00pm – God Loves Uganda
• 8.15pm – Our Man in Tehran

Saturday, April 19

• 2.00pm – The Moo Man
• 4.30pm – Last Days in Vietnam
• 7.00pm – The Final Member
• 9.00pm – Jackie Stewart: Weekend of a Champion

Sunday, April 20

• 3.00pm – Red Obsession
• 5.00pm – Ai Weiwei: Fake Case
• 7.15pm – Evergreen: The Road to Legalisation in Washington

#BermudaDocumentaryFilmFestival #Film #GoodNews

Category: All, Entertainment, Films/Movies