Lisbon

(photo by Mike)


I'm missing Lisbon already - the winding, tile crusted streets, the gentle light, constant music, cafes with strong coffee and the constant threat of pickpockets. This is a city with both grandeur and grit. In a shady bar I watched a transvestite prostitute for whom any eye contact meant business. Two muscled handsome asked me to take their picture - muscled puffed - necks and faces red. I thought they were macho soccer fans, and they were, except that their legs were twined round each other. There was a hair in my whiskey, a fight over cigarettes at the dispenser, and a woman mopping vomit off the dance floor -forcing lively moves on the listless couple dancing there... In the theaters we saw Africans braving the film grain sand and heat of the Sahara to reach new lives, (Mirages) we saw a Romanian couple in their 8O's gently allowing death, tempered by long love, to enter their lives (Constantine and Elena) and we saw my family loved by strangers. Evenings were spent on a terrace, eating drinking and learning how much great cinema has been denied US viewing because of the cold war scholarship. On our last night we danced to Lisbon pop, ESG and the Clash with filmmakers and festivals volunteers - all I remember is hair and hips and eyes circling round, Cinta's hand in mine, Joana’s sly smile, Marta's boots... A woman's scooped neck linen blouse with golden spangles shaking, a boy's tight ass in white, wine stained jeans, moving across the dance floor. Winning the prize here meant something more than film credentials; it meant we touched the woman and men here who gave us such living glimpse of the place.















PS. Mike has a great selection of photos here!
http://www.octobercountryfilm.com/stills/doclisboa2009/album/index.html

October Country Comes Home and Goes…

Camden, Maine


Mike and Jean Pierre Duret - Camden, Maine




Hey all,


It’s early October and the east coast screenings of the film have just ended I’m writing to you from a train heading upstate NY to spend time with the folks while Mike takes the film to Moscow and other screenings in Russia.

We began in Maine with the Camden International Film Festival. This festival has a sharp young energy, strong programming, and seriously engaged audiences (so engaged that our Q&A got a bit intense – an awesome, if prickly situation.) We are happy to spread the word that Jean–Pierre Duret’s “Because We Were Born” took one of the two top doc awards- This is a film that is rarely seen and, like many of the best documentaries we’ve encountered, deserves so much more attention. The Philosopher Kings took also took top prize and it’s our hope that our travels allow us to catch this film.

From Maine we drove through a white out downpour to meet my parents and Woodstock for their first public screening of the film. We were all emotional afterwards but my mom and dad displayed the same directness, clarity, and honesty that made them so special on screen. It was beyond me to read the emotions crossing my mothers’ face as she got a second round of applause but it was one finest moments of making and presenting this film to hear her, shaky voiced and scared, speak with pride for the film and for herself and our family. Soon after, my father was thanked for his Military services by a young veteran and I haven’t seen his seen his face light up like that for years. This night wound up with some high-jinx between Mike and AJ Schnack and some internet rumors about winning the Skype awards (which don't exist - yet. We are waiting...) The award for non fiction Pentecostal mind-blowing goes once again to AJ.

From Woodstock we drove down to NYC, entertained with sass and stories from Brian Brooks. On Mon night we had a wonderful screening at Thom Power’s Stranger Than Fiction series at IFC. We were taken aback at first to learn that Chris Rock’s premier e of Good Hair was taking place at the same time, and almost prevented from entering the lobby by the guardians of the red carpet. All went well though, with a great audience that included some long lost friends and some admired filmmakers. We can’t thank Tom enough for everything he’s done for us since we first started brings the film out of the editing room. Afterwards, in the flash bulb popping lobby we thanked Chris Rock for coming to the film and lending a red carpet. He said, “I’m happy to support you,” Awkward pause as two different worlds of filmmaking try with friendly intentions to touch and both parties feel they almost, but not quite, do. His hair was damn good though! The night ended happily with too much drinking and a big full moon over NYC.

Now I’m an hour from Utica, leaves blowing past the train window, and Mike somewhere in Moscow. We’ll come together again in SF, the second homecoming for the film, then off to Europe with thanks to all and everyone who’s helped us and viewed the film so far.

Recent Updates.

Hey all,
things have been going crazy well since Silverdocs! Thanks for all the support and opportunity everyone is giving us. Soon we'll be on the next leg of our US and European festival run. Check the news section for updates.

Meanwhile, as Mike has been plotting world domination film festival style, I've been pretending to be a writer.

On August 3rd I'll be reading from my essay about representation, The Excorcist and making October Country included in Life As We Show It: Writing on Film (City Lights Press), edited by Masha Tupitsyn and Brian Pera. Richard Grayson and Masha Tupitsyn will also be reading and film clips will we shown.

August 3rd 7pm.
McNally Jackson Books
52 Prince St.
(b/t Lafayette & Mulberry)
New York, NY 10012
212.274.1160





Also,
My review of Dennis Cooper's "Ugly Man" is now online at http://www.thefanzine.com/articles/books.

Latest Review

The latest review of October Country:

"I watched it. It's good." -Donna Mosher.

Sterling Prize, Silverdocs!!!

It's been a hectic coast hopping week. We flew to Silverdocs to reunite with all the wonderful doc folks from previous festivals. After receiving a warm welcome and being astounded at the quality films and filmmakers in the program, we flew to LA for our premiere. Once again, we were give the warmest welcome by the festival (during the filmmaker retreat and afterwards) and
again floored by the diversity of the films and filmmakers in the fest. After our premiere and party, we went to bed around 3AM woke at 4, and climbed back on a plane to Silverdocs. Our plane was late. Our cab was slow. We arrived 15 mins before the awards ceremony and made it just in time. 20 mins later we found that we'd won the Sterling US feature prize. The pictures floating around the internet (yikes) can attest to the state of shock we were in. The jurors were Cian Smyth, David Kwok, and Margaret Brown – that October Country received the prize, and more so such deep consideration from this respected and talented group still has us reeling. Thanks again, again, again, to Sky Sitney and everyone who has given us love and support so far.
(However, all y'all who knew we'd won and hid it so well - we'll never trust you again!)

Family Update:

Since the announcement, my family have been following the reviews. They are all a little astounded that people are taking an interest in their lives, though my mother did say over the phone, " ...sometimes disfunction functions." Desi recently told me
that "According to the reviews, I'm the one who will make it out." (look out world when that happens) Daneal is doing well, keeping stable and has a blog about her life as a young mother:
http://homewithlife.blogspot.com/
Chris is doing on-line college courses and trying to find a job, despite his jail record.

All together, everything is stable and better than it has been in a long time.

TRUE/FALSE

(photo by Ingrid Kopp)

Confessions of a Film Festival Virgin

What a special kind of madness this festival was – arriving in the dead quiet airport – a 2 hour shuttle ride through what should have been Missouri but was only a dark road light by billboards for chain restaurants, chur, and adult bookstores. In town we meet and greet with only our films and a few drinks to open up communication. But it works and works well. The next day we get up, walk the bright and friendly town, go into darkness to watch the horrors and joys of life compressed and flickering, then come out to give praise and talk business. At night, after negotiating the shifting ground of the documentary film world and the flux of emotions brought on by the films themselves, we drink and happily deprive ourselves of sleep. By our last screening I was so raw from everything I’d seen that I could barely speak, let alone speak about our film. Seeing my family’s story among such work and appreciated by such a caliber of people split me right down the middle –it’s crazy to be so happy because your family is so sad. To complicate all this, there in audience were Genevieve and Logan who I haven’t seen 12 years and whose love I thought I’d lost. In the midst of all the loaded images, all the talking of film, there I was, held by Genevieve, warm and strong as ever. Thanks again to Paul Sturtz and David Wilson for an experience beyond anything I’d expected.



(March March Parade)




















The Award Goes To…

It’s pointless to give a “best” list since I missed half the films I wanted to see and became pals with most of the filmmakers whose films I did. Instead I’ll give my 1st annual Completely Biased Appreciation Awards to some of the folks I met:

First of all the Tough Love Awards go to Esther Robinson, Debra Zimmerman, Jess Search, Heather Croall,Matt Dentler, Kirby Dick, and Rachel Rosen who took on our film like social workers considering the future an at risk child. Many folks helped but these guys really outlined our probation period. Heather also gets the “Why Am I Hearing Chains In the Room Next Door?” special prize.

Family Ghost Awards go to Rick Minnich and Matt Sweetwood (Forgetting Dad)who are not afraid of confronting emotional ambiguity. Also to Kimberly Reed whose bravery and intelligence are matched only by her elegance. Her Prodigal Sons looks at the complications of memory, identity, family love, and violence with sharp sight and unflinching tenderness.

Teen Spirit Awards go to the Brits – Ingrid Kopp, Nick Abraham (The Posters From the Walls) and Jamie Jay Johnson whose Sounds Like Teen Spirit shows us a Europe whose borders are drawn in glitter –a substance that bridges the gap between heartbreak, victory, and national pride. This film made me sure that my inner child is a 13 year-old girl (not just an immature drag queen.)



The Laugh At A Hopeless Cause Awardd goes to The Yes Men Fix the World. It’s delightful as always to see Andy Bichlbaum in action, shifting his persona from a self effacing Clark Kent to would be Superman. Splashing close behind is John Maringouin and Molly Lynch’s Big River Man – which is also the only film from the 4th dimension I have ever seen.

The Quiet Dignity Prize goes to Jean-Pierre Duret, both for himself and the quiet dignity he reveals in his young subjects. Because We Were Born is without doubt the most beautiful of all the films I saw at the festival.

The “Damn son, How’d You Get So Good!” Award goes to Darius Mardur whose Loot has one of the most powerful moments I have ever seen in a documentary and whose charm and inclusiveness make it apparent at first meeting how he got his astounding story.

The Balance Your Profession With Your Cocktail Glass Award goes to Brian Brooks
For serious engagement with the filmmakers and the parties.



The Best Live Performance In Front of A Camera goes to Kimberly Chew, the newswoman who interviewed us live. Seeming to pull a private TV signal into her body she transformed from a soft spoken woman focused on her lines into a full blown television personality –an impressive and frightening skill.

(Before and after)












































The Dance Floor Award goes to me - an honor bestowed by Jamie Jay Johnson, who has seen Miss Junior Ukraine in action, (and because jumpin’ around to New Order got me hit on.)


Finally the Life Together Award goes to Mike Palmieri, but I’m the lucky one.

True/False

October Country is going to the True/False Film Festival.

Check It Out
http://truefalse.org/

More posts coming throughout the week.

In other news

October Country made the SF BAY GAURDIAN's end of the year critic's picks – Larry Rinder's top ten!
Donal's photos have been nominated for the Baum and Godowsky Awards.
Disjecta artspace in Portland will be presenting a October Country multimedia show in Nov. Curated by Sam Gould, including original and recent photos by Donal, film clips, stills and more by Mike, as well text and installation components.