JOHN PORTMAN - A LIFE OF BUILDING

By Ben Loeterman
2011, Culture, 54', USA
English

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Once a maverick who was nearly run out of the American Institute of Architects, John Portman is now recognized as one of the most innovative and imitated architects ever.

Over 45 years, Portman’s iconic urban statements and eye- popping interiors have risen in 60 cities on four continents to redefine cityscapes in America, and skylines in China and the rest of Asia. The film captures Portman’s approach in an intimate portrait that, by turn, assesses and appreciates Portman’s work.

Dramatic time-lapse footage shows off Portman’s buildings at their best— often in moving sunlight that washes over his facades and spaces.

www.johnportmanfilm.com

Produced by Ben Loeterman Productions, Inc.

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TALL GIRLS

by Edda Baumann-von Broen

2011, Human Interest, 58' & 80', Germany
English/German

It doesn’t matter if you’re a model or basketball player or if you lead a very normal existence, life above 1.85m (6’) is different. Other rules apply up here. Tiiu and Michelle are successful models and are too tall for their jobs. Arianne’s mother doesn’t like her daughter’s height. Sarah is undergoing surgery to prevent her from becoming an estimated 1.90m (6’3“). Lea is taking hormones which are prohibited for children to stop her from growing. Lisa is 1,99m (6’6“) and could become a professional basketball player if she tried hard enough, but she would rather be a proper girl.

The Internet is full of girls who are distressed about their growth and willing to do anything to finally stop it. Every pediatrician has a growth chart on the wall where even young children can see whether they are normal or not.

But what’s normal? Every norm is an average statistic of many human beings. The chances of fulfilling precisely this norm are very slim. Nevertheless, we live in a society in which those around us are continually letting us know whether or not we fit in, especially when you’re a girl. Big, loud and self-confident – who wants that?

Often we become what others see in our bodies. In this film, Tiiu, Michelle, Arianne, Sarah, Lea and Lisa show how they live and feel, and how they’re coming to terms with their height. And also, what their size has made them into.

Between cries and laughter, one can’t help but fall in love with these tall girls, who bare their souls to show how difficult yet liberating living outside the norm can be.

Produced by Avanti Media

IS SHE OR ISN'T HE?

by Justin Pemberton

2011, Human Interest/Gay 45' & 70'

New Zealand, English

Growing up as a small town boy who feels like a girl, Graham is an outsider who can see only one solution - to become "Ashleigh". Ashleigh's greatest desire is to be an attractive woman "with beautiful big breasts that a man would love." She insists that she's both heterosexual and a virgin.

But just as Ashleigh starts to really change her appearance, she also reveals her inner conflict and confusion about what she's actually doing. Ashleigh dreads being identified as transgender and divulges that her ultimate drive is simply to become "normal".

WATCH TRAILER!

Produced by The Docufactory

ROCK HUDSON, dark and handsome stranger

by Andrew Davies & André Schäfer

SELECTED FOR BERLINALE 2010!

2010, Culture, 58' & 90', Germany
English

There are two reasons to revive interest in the Hollywood star Rock Hudson in 2010: If he had not died of AIDS 25 years ago, it would have been his 85th birthday in November 2010. The film portrays a very male looking gay leading man who had to perform a secret balancing act between the heterosexual Hollywood world and the dark side of closeted sexuality. In fact he was someone who always needed to tell lies. He had to become a very good actor even in real life.

The film includes interviews with his French doctor Dr. Philippe Siou and Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Rock’s American doctor who became the first physician to describe a new disease that would later become known as AIDS, friends like Stockton Briggle and his personal secretary Mark Miller, Yanou Collart, his French PR manager, Armistead Maupin, bestselling author, Richard Dyer, film historian, Robert Hofler, author of the book “The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson”, Richard Anderson and Salome Jens, co-stars of “SECONDS”, Leonard Stern, producer of Hudson's TV series “McMillan&Wife” and Hollywood reporter Rona Barrett.

Produced by Florianfilm GmbH

EDIE & THEA: A Very Long Engagement

by Susan Muska & Greta Olafsdottir

2009, Culture, 59', USA
English

After 42 years, feisty and delightful lesbian couple Edie and Thea are finally getting married. From the early '60s to the present day, the tireless community activists persevere through many battles, both personal and political. These two compassionate and brave women are a model of courage and strength that speaks to everyone, of any age. Through this film audiences will recognize that dancing, like loving, can continue at any age, and rediscover the timeless message “Don’t postpone joy”. Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir (The Brandon Teena Story) return with a love story of two remarkable women whose commitment to each other is an inspiration to us all.

2009

Audience Award for Best Documentary Outfest
Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary Skeive Filme
Audience & Director's Club Award for Best Documentary Reel Pride
Audience Award for Best Independent Feature Documentary Image Out
Docula-Award for Best Documentary Hamburg Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

2010

Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Australia
Audience Award for Best Documentary and over all Audiences Favorite Film of the Roze Film Dagen Festival, Amsterdam.
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Internationales Frauen Film Festival Dortmund/Köln
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Pink Apple Film Festival in Zürich, Switzerland.
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - presented by HBO
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Audience Award and the Jury Award for Best Documentary, QFest, Philadelphia

REVIEW

Produced by BLESS BLESS PRODUCTIONS

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MADE, DORIS DAY SUPERSTAR

by Andrew Davies & André Schäfer

www.dorisdaysuperstar.com

2009, Culture, 52' & 90', Germany
English/German

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MADE, DORIS DAY SUPERSTAR is an endearing account of Doris Day's life and career delivered in a quirky and fun way. It's as cute and as wholesome as the lady it is about - offering a fascinating insight into Doris's distant Germanic roots, her hardworking days in Hollywood and twilight years retired with her dogs in a picturesque and pet-friendly town. Covering serious and respectful journalism which actually enables Joe Public to impartially appraise the woman who is a cultural icon of the 20th and 21st century.
With a healthy dose of movie, television and song clips which represent all facets of Doris Day the entertainer; unique material from private archives; all-new interviews with actors Philip Brown, Peter Graves, Jackie Joseph and Noah Keen, biographers Pierre Patrick and Tom Santopietro, Doris Day fans, childhood acquaintances and even distant relatives from Germany.
This is all wrapped up with some fascinating on-location filming of historical landmarks and buildings relevant to Doris Day's family, career and life from her birth place of Cincinnati, her current home town of Carmel-by-the-Sea to the German province. A 2008 telephone conversation between Doris and the film's makers is also notably contained which occurred during Doris's annual "birthday" call-in on her local radio station with DJ Ed Dickinson [where the production team were visiting].

A timely reminder of what a difference having Doris Day has made to the world.

Produced by Florianfilm Gmbh