The Bay Area has long been fertile ground for extraordinary work in documentary filmmaking, so it comes as no surprise that nearly half of the eight titles (whittled down from thirty-one) in consideration for an Academy Award® nomination for Documentary Short Subject were made by talented filmmakers with roots in our own backyard. Three time nominee and Oscar-winner for DAYS OF WAITING, Steven Okazaki makes the list once again for The CONSCIENCE OF NHEM EN, a sobering look at the atrocities committed in Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge, but also the resilience of a culture that bears the burden of a painful history. Ruby Yang, who, along with producer Thomas Lennon was awarded the Oscar® for THE BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT, team up again to take an intimate look at young gay men in modern China as they grapple with the inner struggle between self-actualization and filial duty in TONGZHI IN LOVE. Following the Emmy®-nominated LOST BOYS OF SUDAN, Megan Mylan’s, SMILE PINKI follows two young girls with a cleft lip from an impoverished part of India through their real world fairytale. This program honors and celebrates these filmmakers’ talent and gifts for establishing the intimate connections necessary to bring us these deeply moving stories. The Bay Area Documentaries program will take place on January 11, 2009 at the San Rafael Film Center.
Bay Area Documentaries: Selections From the Academy’s Shortlist
Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
1118 Fourth Street (Between A & B)
San Rafael, CA 94901
Sunday, January 11, 4:00
Program approximately 95 mins.
