The Greek Film Archive, with the support of the U.S. Embassy, is pleased to present the week-long retrospective on the “Contemporary American Documentary” featuring award-winning contemporary documentaries that give insights into life and culture in the United States. The retrospective will open on February 24, 2011 and run through
March 2, 2011, at the Film Archive (48 Iera Odos Str. & 134-136 Megalou Alexandrou Str.). For the complete program of screenings please call 210-3609695 or visit www.mosaiko.gr.
As part of the retrospective, two prominent experts on American documentaries will visit Greece for presentations and workshops.
From March 4-5, the Naoussa International Film Festival will host the retrospective in the city of Naoussa. The two-day program will include film screenings and a panel discussion with the two American experts. The event will take place at the Cultural Center School of Aristotle (Isvoria Naoussas.) For more information call 233-2024617, or visit www.mosaiko.gr and www.niff.gr.The films being shown in both Athens and Naoussa cover a broad spectrum of cinematography and narrative techniques as well as themes; from human rights and immigration to the environment and natural disasters, and even stories of personal journeys.The retrospective is part of the American Documentary Showcase, a touring program of about 60 independently produced documentaries that is traveling to nearly 25 countries worldwide. The films are introduced by accompanying U.S. filmmakers and film experts, who also conduct seminars and workshops on filmmaking and emergent media. Films chosen for the Showcase have earned Oscar and Emmy nominations and awards at Sundance, Tribeca and other film festivals.
Bill Guttentag is a two-time Oscar-winning documentary and feature film writer-producer-director. In Greece, he will present his 2009 film ‘Soundtrack for a Revolution,’ a documentary that tells the story of the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and ’60’s through its powerful music. In 1988, Guttentag won an Oscar for the documentary ‘You Don’t Have to Die,’ and earned three more Academy Award nominations over the next 15 years before winning a second Oscar in 2003 for ‘Twin Towers.’ Since 2001, he has been teaching film and television business at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.
Sandra J. Ruch served as Executive Director of the International Documentary Association, a nonprofit organization with 3,000 members that promotes nonfiction filmmaking and supports the efforts of filmmakers around the world, and Publisher of Documentary magazine from 2001-2008. Ruch serves on juries at film festivals around the world. She has recently started Cinelixir Productions, a company that helps documentary filmmakers with the creative and promotion elements of filmmaking.
To request interviews with Mr. Guttentag or Ms. Ruch, contact the U.S. Embassy Athens Press Office at tel: 210-7202363, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
