2011 Fusion Film Festival Schedule
Tuesday, March 1st
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Tisch 006 Screening Room
721 Broadway
6:30 pm
The award winning documentary by Ricki Stern and Annie Sunderg with filmmaker Ricki Stern in attendance.
"An ABSOLUTELY RIVETING portrait of a woman who is a creature of show business: tireless, ageless, unforgiving--and always, always funny." Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work takes the audience on a year long ride with legendary comedian Joan Rivers in her 76th year of life. Peeling away the mask of an iconic comedian and exposing the struggles, sacrifices and joy of living life as a ground breaking female performer. The film is an emotionally surprising and revealing portrait of one the most hilarious and long-standing career women ever in the business.
Wednesday, March 2nd
Females in Focus: Women in Documentary Film
D'Agostino Hall
West Third Street
7:00 pm
It took 82 years for a woman to receive an Oscar for her directorial achievements. While men continue to dictate fictional films in Hollywood, the non-fiction film world is a whole different story. Most experts in the doc community believe that women directors make up at least 50% of the directing ranks.
Women are pushing the boundaries of the documentary form by taking on daunting, large-scale topics and exploring them through intimate, relatable stories. Join a panel of NYU Alumnae filmmakers, led by Gina Abatemarco, Fusion’s Co-Founder and doc filmmaker, as they explore in conversation the success women have achieved in the doc world that have eluded those in the fiction business.
RSVP: http://www.alumni.nyu.edu/femalesinfocus
Co-Sponsored by the Tisch East Alumni Counsel & NYU Women’s Initiative
Thursday, March 3rd
"Ceremony"
Cantor Film Center
36 East 8th Street
6:30 pm
The indie comedy debut from Max Winkler starring Uma Thurman, with director Winkler and his collaborators Kate Dean, producer, and designer Inbal Weinberg in conversation on what it takes to collaborate.
Moderated by Diana Snyder, Fusion Co-Director
Friday, March 4th
Agents and Managers
721 Broadway
006 Theatre
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Join us for an illuminating conversation with top east and west coast reps. Get answers to questions like: How much do you need them? How hard is it to get them?
Moderated by Fusion's Faculty Advisor, Professor Susan Sandler
Documentary Pitch Competition
Tisch 006
721 Broadway
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Finalists pitch their docs in progress to top execs from A&E, IFC, and, HBO in front of an audience and hear valuable commentary from the judges. Winner receives $1,000. in finishing funds.
Organized and moderated by Professor Nilita Vachani
Competition Screenings
Cantor Film Center
36 East 8th Street
6:00 pm
Screening of finalists films in all categories, followed by the award ceremony for best feature screenplay, best short screenplay, best film, best grad director, best undergrad director, best grad cinematographer and best undergrad cinematographer.
Awards and distribution of prizes!
Afterparty
10:00 pm
Join the Fusion Staff and Award winners for a night of celebration!
Location and invitations distributed at the competition screening for all attendees.
Saturday, March 5th
Sally Menke Breakfast
Dean's Conference Room, 12th Floor
721 Broadway
10:30 am
The 2011 Fusion Film Festival is dedicated to the loving memory of Sally Menke '77. This memorial breakfast will pay tribute to this remarkably accomplished editor with film clips and commentary by her friends, collaborators, and family. Sally was the most recent in a tradition of outstanding female film editors and was named Editor of the Year at the Hollywood film awards in 2004. She was renowned for her work with Quentin Tarantino, who in the early 1990s became the first superstar film-maker since Steven Spielberg. Sally edited every one of Tarantino's films, from his 1992 debut, Reservoir Dogs, to 2009's, Inglourious Basterds. Tarantino called her "my main, real, truest and strongest collaborator."
RSVP: http://alumni.tisch.nyu.edu/object/tacl_ec_20110305.html
From Revolutionary Road to Wall Street: A Conversation with Oscar-nominated Production Designer Kristi Zea
Tisch 006
721 Broadway
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Kristi Zea has been the production designer for more than twenty-two films, been nominated for an Oscar twice, and worked with directors as diverse as Martin Scorcese, Sam Mendes, and Oliver Stone. Join in discussions of her work and industry secrets!
From Page to Screen: How Women Tell Stories in Different Roles
Tisch 006
721 Broadway
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Come discover how they do it and secrets of the trade from some of the most sucessful female filmmakers on the Independent circuit. Featuring Courtney Hunt (Writer/Director Frozen River), Nancy Savoca (Director Dogfight), Riva Marker (Producer The Kids Are All Right, The Romantics), Daniela Taplin Lundberg (Producer The Kids Are All Right, The Romantics), Gina Fattore (Co-Executive Producer Californication, Gilmore Girls)
Embrace Your Inner Child: Women Working In Children's Media
Tisch 006
721 Broadway
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Hailing from Sesame Street to Cartoon Network to Nickelodeon, this panel of women, all members of WICM, a vibrant organization of talented women in the field of children's media, discuss writing, directing, and producing animated and live-action shows that inspire and entertain millions of children across the world.
Moderated by Professor Lynne McVeigh
Closing Reception
Tisch Lower Lobby
721 Broadway
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join us for food and drinks as we celebrate eight years of Fusion!
