In 1964, after spending a one year protracted legal battle, co-club owners, Howard and Elly Solomon were finally granted a 'unique' cabaret license and the Cafe Au Go Go opened its doors on February 7. Six weeks later with mounting legal bills and depleting funds the couple were quickly going out of business. With few options, Howard and Elly made a desperate, late minute attempt to keep the club open and reached out to popular comedian, Lenny Bruce. Two days into Lenny's performance he was arrested and booked for obscenity charges, alone with Howard and Elly. THat historic arrest, and the international press it garnered would put the Cafe Au Go Go on the tnertainment world map.
2011
Best Documentary Feature
Documentary Feature
United States
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
27 minutes
Director:
Jason M. Solomon
REIFF 2011
Best Experimental Film
Experimental
Germany
Runtime:
14 minutes
50 seconds
Director:
Florian Krautkramer
REIFF 2011
Everything seemed to go wrong from within and without. The never-ending official arbitrariness was oppressing, the examining glance outside. But lately, resistance has formed here. With excuses and blinders, the protagonist achieved in building his own world without reacting to the events taking place. But when fate tried to force him into making a decision, he chooses again a facade constructed of lies and spectacle. Breaking legs is a silent movie. It makes room for the linguistic incapability of the protagonist, but the inter-titles try to explore this format.
Narrative Short
South Africa
Runtime:
16 minutes
4 seconds
Director:
C.R. Reisser
REIFF 2011
In the spring of 2008, a shocking wave of xenophobic attacks against foreign immigrants spread across South Africa, leading to the deaths of sixty-two people and the displacement of over 40,000.
Protect the Nation is a tender and intimate look inside the struggles of a community and the consequences of greed, miscommunication and hate. When faced with the unexpected kindness of a stranger, a young boy begins to question himself. Does he have the courage to do what's right?
Documentary Feature
Iraq
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
10 minutes
Director:
Folleh Tamba
REIFF 2011
This is the story of the riflemen of Echo company 3rd platoon; they went through a life changing experience; through the hellishness of war innocence is shattered. Mission accomplishment is the number one goal under all circumstances they endured. Boys are broken and men are made in the mist of war. This is the story of marines in Iraq's forbidden triangle of death.Join the Marines of 2/24 as they take you on a journey through one of Iraq's deadliest regions known as The Triangle Of Death. Feel what it's feels like to survive through a tour of duty during the largest combat engagement since the Vietnam war. Struggle through all the hardship of daily life in a combat environment through a country without law and order as the Marines struggle to keep order. They must survive all that is thrown at them fire fights, car bombs, roadside bombs, snipers, the Marines are relentless. They will only expect mission accomplishment of securing The Triangle Of Death for the first Iraqi election. The Marines of 2/24 have bolted the hardships of their deployment onto the Corps ethos of unremitting toughness, they secured The Triangle of Death for Iraq's first election.
Narrative Feature
United States
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
44 minutes
Director:
Chel White
REIFF 2011
In a small, wooded town, a young man struggles to leave a secret militia started by his father. With an eerily beautiful tone, Bucksville touches on the timely topics of ethics and the militia movement, within the context of family conflict. It is also a film about love, loyalty, and the loss of innocence.
Animation
United States
Runtime:
3 minutes
48 seconds
Director:
John Roberts
REIFF 2011
Melancholy mixed-medium animation about a lonely girl and her friend.
Documentary Feature
United States
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
53 minutes
Director:
James Nubile, Joseph Fox
REIFF 2011
A Documentary Film on the Battle for Same-Sex Marriage in America On May 6th, 2009 Maine became the first state in this country to legislatively grant same-sex couples the right to marry. Seven months later, on November 3rd 2009 Maine reversed, becoming the thirty-first state in this country to say 'no' to gay and lesbian marriage. Filmed from within both campaigns, 'Question One' chronicles the fierce and emotional battle that took place in Maine during that time, a battle whose political symbolism is a bellwether for the greater ideological battlefield in American politics.
Narrative Short
United States
Runtime:
2 minutes
14 seconds
Director:
Ericka Frederick
REIFF 2011
Walking Peace is a 3-minute film about the complexities of daily existence and the need to take the time to balance what is happening around us. This concise, powerful film shows a young man moving through his world, shedding burdens and seeking a place of peace.
Narrative Feature
United States
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
12 minutes
Director:
Matthew Gordon
REIFF 2011
All fourteen-year-old Robbie Hendrick ever wanted was a family. Yet as another Mississippi summer begins, his wayward mother has run off again fearing a breakdown and he's left to burn the days caring for his half brother, Fess. As the deep days and nights pass without her return and with older brother Lucas dangerously in their lives again, Robbie must face the fact that his dream of a family may only be a dream and he might just lose the only family he's ever had: Fess. Filmed on location in the Mississippi Delta town of Glen Allan, MS with all non-actors from the region, The Dynamiter is a story of family in the forgotten America, uncompromisingly told by the very people who live it everyday.
Narrative Short
Germany
Runtime:
44 minutes
59 seconds
Director:
Marco J. Riedl
REIFF 2011
'Anyone who doesn't believe in miracles isn't a realist!' - Billy Wilder A quirk of fate leads Luke Hallow to risk violating his parole and losing his newly won freedom. He has to save the life of his nine-year-old daughter, Noel, who urgently needs a donor heart. Only a miracle keeps him from losing everything forever.