Now available from the Criterion Collection: THE WAR ROOM

* New, restored high-definition digital transfer from the original 16mm camera negative, approved by directors Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition

* Return of the War Room, a 2008 Sundance Channel documentary by Hegedus and Pennebaker in which advisers James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Paul Begala, and others reflect on the effect that the Clinton war room had on the way campaigns are run

* New pieces in which the filmmakers discuss the difficulties of shooting in the campaign’s fast-paced environment

* Panel discussion hosted by the William J. Clinton Foundation, featuring Carville, Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan, journalist Ron Brownstein, and surprise guest Bill Clinton

* Interview with strategist Stanley Greenberg on the evolution of polling

* PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by writer Louis Menand

"The film looks like new thanks to a fantastic high-digital transfer courtesy of The Criterion Collection...great supplements." - Nigel Smith, IndieWire

"The film’s transfer looks about as good as it can look...it’s remarkable that it looks even this good. A terrific series of follow-up bonus material greatly increases the value of the package particularly for fans of the film. Highly recommended!" - Matt Hough, Home Theater Forum

"Hegedus and Pennebaker's film captures the turning of a page in how politics are conducted, and Criterion's excellent edition gives the film its best imaginable presentation, with a slew of fine bonus features." - Jason Bailey, DVDTalk

"Criterion has delivered an excellent edition for the film...the audio was actually quite stunning and the supplements were all incredibly fascinating, offering some context to the film by taking a deeper look at the campaign while also going over the nuances and difficulties in making a documentary of this nature. A great job overall and for those that enjoy the film or are fascinated by politics in general this release comes with a high recommendation." - Chris Galloway, CriterionForum.org

Order the Blu-Ray edition or the standard DVD edition from the Criterion Collection.

THE FEELING OF BEING THERE: a filmmaker's memoir

"I made my first film, aged 14, in 1935 and I have been at it ever since, striving to give my viewers a sense of 'being there.'

"There have been years of frustration on one level and the joys of achievement on another.

"Writing about film has much in common with writing about wine: you can't taste the wine by reading. Well, I think you have a similar problem when you write about films: you can't see the movies on the printed page. So it occurred to me that if I embed excerpts, and often entire films, within the book, then you, the reader, could actually experience what I am talking about." (excerpt from Introduction)

The Feeling of Being There is a riveting autobiographical epic spanning almost the entire history of cinema as seen through the eyes of one of its leading players.

From Canary Bananas, his first movie in 1935, to a musical production in post Soviet Siberia, Richard Leacock's memoir follows history through the eyes of a man who was present at so many key moments of the 20th century, among them, the battle for Burma, the Japanese surrender at Nanking, John F. Kennedy's primary campaign, the Kenyan leap towards independence, and the enrollment of the first African American students at the University of Alabama.

The Feeling of Being There will be both a bound paper book and a Digital Video Book (or DVB) viewable on computer. In the limited special edition, or "Collector's box," the numbered and signed hardcover book comes with an embedded video player containing close to 100 film clips which intertwine richly with the gripping storyline.

Leacock has worked in documentary since its inception. This book, with its many original photos and films, is a cornerstone in the legacy of cinema.

Order the memoir via PayPal or through Amazon.com

CURRENT TV PLACES "THE WAR ROOM" AT #6 ON ITS LIST OF "50 DOCUMENTARIES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE""

For the past month of August, Current TV has been airing a brand-new series "exploring the most powerful, memorable and moving documentary feature films to have hit our cinema screens in recent years," covering documentary films that have been released between 1988 and 2010.

Tonight, they'll be broadcasting segments on their top ten selections, including The War Room, which was ranked at #6.

Congratulations to all and stay tuned for more exciting news on The War Room!

JACQUY PFEIFFER, DESSERT PROFESSIONAL'S NEWEST HALL OF FAME HONOREE

Dessert Professional magazine, the nation's leading publication of the pastry, ice cream and chocolate industries, named the top toques of tuile, cocoa and sugar at a ceremony on Monday, June 6 at The Institute for Culinary Education in New York, and Jacquy Pfeiffer was this year's Hall Of Fame honoree. Congratulations, Jacquy!

SILVERDOCS TO HONOR CHRIS HEGEDUS AND D A PENNEBAKER

The AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival will honor the work of Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker at this year’s Charles Guggenheim Symposium, to be held on June 23.

The Symposium, named after four-time Oscar winner Charles Guggenheim, honors filmmakers who are masters of the documentary form.

“With a collective body of work spanning over fifty years, Hegedus and Pennebaker have influenced a generation of filmmakers in direct cinema. Whether it be Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign, the three-day 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, an intimate portrait of Bob Dylan or a behind-the-scenes view of dot com mania, they have captured some of the most important subjects and iconic figures of our time,” said Silverdocs festival director Sky Sitney. “We are thrilled to recognize their vast contribution to cinema in the documentary form.”

Following a screening of excerpts from their work, Hegedus and Pennebaker will be joined by special guests to discuss their filmmaking efforts thus far.

Past Guggenheim honourees include Barbara Kopple, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Spike Lee, Albert Maysles and Frederick Wiseman.



Advance tickets are available from the festival's website.

"DONT LOOK BACK" NOW PLAYING AT FILM FORUM - HELD OVER BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Wednesday, May 18 – Thursday, June 2

Showtimes: 1:00, 4:45, 8:30

D A Pennebaker in person on

Tuesday, May 31 at the 8:30 show!

Read A.O. Scott's review in The New York Times:


"Dont Look Back [sic] is so perfect and prescient that Todd Haynes, in some parts of I’m Not There, had only to restage some of what Mr. Pennebaker had captured. Watching the original now, in the wake of I’m Not There, you may be astonished at Bob Dylan’s uncanny ability to impersonate Cate Blanchett.

"Like A Hard Day’s Night — or, for that matter, Jean-Luc Godard’s contemporaneous films — Dont Look Back retains a startling hold on the present tense."


Advance tickets may be purchased online

D A PENNEBAKER'S "DONT LOOK BACK" - NOW AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY

D A Pennebaker's classic film, Dont Look Back, is now available in a new high-definition transfer on Blu-Ray with lossless DTS-HD audio.

"The image is reasonably well defined and in the outdoor and brightly lit sequences, it looks rather good, considering its 16mm source elements and its age...Much better is the excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix. What's great about this lossless track is its excellent fidelity in reproducing some wonderful early Dylan performances. There's a rather surprising lack of hiss and tinniness in any of these performances...Dylan's guitar rings out loud and clear and his voice also sounds clear and well defined...it's a really well done lossless reproduction of a vintage track that is most likely going to delight most Dylan fans...4 1/2 out of 5 stars." - Jeffrey Kauffman, Blu-Ray.com

Dont Look Back has "gotten better as a home-video experience, compliments of its new high-def format...4 out of 4 stars." - Mike Scott, The Times-Picayune

"Dont Look Back is beautiful because of its unpolished feel. Blu-ray is exceptionally good at making film look like film, and it definitely does here...The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio is just as raw, immediate, and impressive." - DVD Verdict

"Seminal. Not only cemented the musician's status as an icon of sixties cool; it's also a crash course in the breathtaking immediacy of vérité filmmaking." – New York magazine

"If the art of being cool could be learned from a film, then the only one you'd ever need to study would be Dont Look Back." – Angela Ashman, The Village Voice

“Evokes the 60s like few other documents; Dylan’s relentless heaping of scorn on the mainstream press, before the coercive tentacles of ‘creative management’ made such things virtually impossible, is especially telling... Memorable for its goofy, syncopated opening sequence alone.” – Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

"An unforgettable all-access pass behind the scenes of Bob Dylan's '65 British tour, D.A. Pennebaker's landmark 1967 rock doc all but invented the form while presaging the music video… The concert footage of the young Dylan in his punky prime is electrifying, but the most fun comes from the privileged glimpses of his sadistic wit." - Jim Ridley, The Village Voice

Now available from Amazon.com

RICHARD LEACOCK 1921 - 2011

Read Brian Winston's tribute at Visible Evidence.

More tributes can be found at MUBI.

"KINGS OF PASTRY" IS COMING TO DVD!

Available now - order it today!

Long before "The Social Network," there was "Startup.com"...

Startup.com follows the adventures of two friends as they create an award winning website that facilitates interaction between local government, citizens and businesses.

They wrestle with growing pains, tackle technical difficulties and charter the unpredictable venture capital waters, but none of these challenges prepare these young entrepreneurs for their own conflict over the management of their company, a conflict that will not only endanger their careers but irrevocably endanger their friendship. Sound familiar?

"Remarkable...Startup.com may be to our time what Wall Street was to the ‘80s. Grade A"
- Entertainment Weekly

"As an inside view of the bursting of the internet bubble, Startup.com is definitive."
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"One of the most involving pieces of eavesdropping you're likely to experience."
- The New York Times

Buy the DVD from Amazon or rent it from Amazon Video on Demand or the iTunes Store.

CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR AL

As we prepare to welcome in 2009, our thoughts and wishes go out to our good friend AL FRANKEN, who has pulled ahead of Norm Coleman in the vote recount for the Minnesota Senate seat. We're with you, Al!



Click HERE to find out more.

See you all in 2009!

IN THE SPIRIT

Happy holidays, everyone!

'THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM' IS EVERYWHERE

SCREENING @ THE 92ND STREET Y - TRIBECA (NY, NY)
The Return of The War Room will be screening at the 92nd Street Y - Tribeca on Fri, Oct 24, 2008, at 7:30pm. Click HERE to purchase tickets, for more information about the screening, or to learn about the 92nd Street Y's new downtown location.

SCREENING @ THE SHEFFIELD DOC/FEST (SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND)
The Return of The War Room will have TWO screenings at the Sheffield Film Fest in "England's Greenest City" in November. The screenings will be held on Nov. 7 at 7:50PM, and Nov. 9 at 3:50PM.

Go HERE to find out about ticket purchasing options.

Go HERE to read more about the screenings.

Filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker will also be on hand to give a Masterclass, hosted by Nick Fraser, on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1:45PM. Read more about that HERE.

EXCLUSIVE SUNDANCE CHANNEL WEBISODES
Can't get enough of James, George, Paul, or Dee Dee? Then you've gotta check out Sundance Channel's EXCLUSIVE The Return of The War Room Webisodes! There are 5 in all. Check 'em out HERE.

And, lastly, if you can't make it to the 92nd Street Y or Sheffield Doc/Fest screenings, you can still catch The Return of The War Room on The Sundance Channel. Check out their website for some exclusive Return of the War Room Webisodes, too (link above).

Go HERE to see when The Return of The War Room will air next and have Sundance email you a reminder so you don't miss the film.

'THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM' @ THE HAMPTONS FILM FEST

Tickets are on sale now for The Return of The War Room at the 2008 Hamptons International Film Festival in East Hampton, NY. The movie will have two screenings:

Fri, Oct 17th 8:30pm
United Artists Cinema 5

Sat, Oct 18th 7:00pm
United Artists Cinema 5

Click here to purchase tickets.

'THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM' PREMIERE TONIGHT

Pennebaker Hegedus Films' and McEttinger Films' newest release, The RETURN of THE WAR ROOM, premieres TONIGHT at the PALEY CENTER for MEDIA, at 7pm. Click here for directions, tickets, and more info.

Hope to see you there!

The RETURN of THE WAR ROOM will also be airing on the Sundance Channel on Monday, October 13th, at 9PM EST.


16 years after making THE WAR ROOM, Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker's 1992 Oscar-nominated documentary following Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign, the filmmakers reunite with James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Mary Matalin, Paul Begala, Bob Boorstin, Dee Dee Myers, and others to reflect on the changes in American politics and political campaigns over the last 16 years, and to look back on the election that launched them all into the national political spotlight. The RETURN of THE WAR ROOM is a highly entertaining and in-depth look at the evolution of American politics, including commentary and insight on the current presidential campaigns.

TWO NEW FILMS

Last week, Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker presented their new film, THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM to students at Flashpoint Academy in Chicago. 16 years after they made THE WAR ROOM, Hegedus and Pennebaker's 1992 Oscar-nominated documentary following Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign, the filmmakers reunited with James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Mary Matalin, Paul Begala, Bob Boorstin, Dee Dee Myers, and others to reflect on the changes in American politics and political campaigns over the last 16 years.

Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker presenting THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM

THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM will premiere on Sundance Channel on October 13th at 9PM, followed by THE WAR ROOM.

Read more about THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM here and here.



Pennebaker and Hegedus also premiered the trailer for their other new film, THE COLLAR. THE COLLAR follows some of France’s best pastry chefs as they prepare for the oldest and most prestigious pastry competition in France, the “Meilleurs Ouvriers de France” (Best Pastry Chefs in France). Pennebaker and Hegedus were the first people to ever be allowed to film the intense three-day competition, held only once every four years and resulting in a medal ceremony presented by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Hegedus and Pennebaker followed French-born pastry chef Jacquy Pfeiffer of the French Pastry School in Chicago as he returned to France to train and compete for the MOF.


Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer building a sugar sculpture.

The completed sculpture.

DEPECHE MODE: 101 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Hard to believe that today marks the 20th anniversary of Depeche Mode's concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. That show was the culmination of not one, but two wild bus tour across America - one convoy with the band, and one with a group of teenagers who'd won a dance contest to see their favorite band play their final show on the US tour. It was an amazing journey for everyone, and one of the greatest music experiences we've ever had both as fans and as filmmakers.


Watch some concert footage from the June 18, 1988 Pasadena show:

CONGRATULATIONS, AL FRANKEN

We would like to extend our congratulations to Al Franken on receiving the Democratic Party's endorsement. Franken is now the Democratic nominee for the US Senate race in Minnesota.

Click HERE to see an interview with Franken from NPR/Twin Cities Public Television.

NPR also has a cool, interactive map HERE that covers all of the 2008 US Elections. See how your candidate's doing in every state.

And, of course, check out the official AL FRANKEN FOR SENATE website.

REMEMBERING BO DIDDLEY

Like all of you, we were very sad to receive news of Bo Diddley's passing on Monday. Bo continually took the concept of being a "self-made man" one step further - as the New York Times put it, he "invented his own name, his own guitars, his own beat and, with a handful of other musical pioneers, rock ’n’ roll itself."

In 1969, D A Pennebaker went to Toronto to film the Sweet Toronto Peace Festival, which featured the 'fearsome four' of rock'n'roll: Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard - and a surprise performance by John Lennon's brand-new Plastic Ono Band. The resulting film became known as Sweet Toronto (Keep On Rockin'). Bo's electrified performance at the start of the film, getting the crowd moving and shaking. Getting them rocking. To us, that's what Bo was all about: spreading the pure joy of rock'n'roll.


Go here to read the full NY Times obituary for Bo Diddley.

1PM and 2 AMERICAN AUDIENCES @ HARVARD

1 PM


If you're in the Boston area this week, the Harvard Film Archive will screen two films made by D A Pennebaker, Richard Leacock, and Jean-Luc Godard: 1 PM and 2 AMERICAN AUDIENCES. These rare films capture a unique view of New York in 1968, a highly politicized time. We hope you'll take advantage of this great opportunity to see them at the Harvard Film Archive's new series, "Godard, Gorin, Garrel and the Grin Without a Cat."

MORE INFO, TICKETS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR: "Godard, Gorin, Garrel and the Grin Without a Cat."