We are thrilled to announce our first special guest for the 4th Annual Festival this August 23-26!
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Steve James, a two-time Academy Award nominee and the director of Hoop Dreams, Life Itself and Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, will receive MNFF’s “Sustained Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking Award.”
Steve James burst onto the documentary filmmaking scene in 1994 with his breakthrough film Hoop Dreams which won the 1994 Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award for Best Documentary, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Editing. The film was recently selected for the prestigious Library of Congress’ National Film Registry (which also holds MNFF honoree Barbara Kopple’s first film, Harlan County, USA).
James’ extraordinary filmography speaks for itself; he has directed, produced and co-produced more than fifty films. His most recent, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, profiles the only financial company indicted in the wake of the 2008 mortgage crisis. The film was nominated for a 2018 Best Documentary Oscar and won the 2017 Critics Choice Documentary Award.
We are pleased to present James with the “Sustained Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking Award.” Catch the presentation at the VTeddy Awards Ceremony on Closing Night, at 6:30pm, Sunday, August 26 at the Town Hall Theater.
Don’t miss these MNFF events featuring Steve James:
FRI, AUG 24 @ 7:15PM / TOWN HALL THEATER
MNFF will screen the Academy Award nominated Abacus: Small Enough to Jail as part of its tribute to Mr. James’ outstanding body of work. Read the reviews.
FRI, AUGUST 24 @ 10:30AM / DANA AUDITORIUM
The Festival is pleased to present the first two episodes of America To Me, a much anticipated series that has been acquired by Starz and will receive its broadcast debut later this year. The series has been shown at only a handful of festivals around the world and this will be its Vermont premiere.
SAT, AUGUST 25 @ 1:30PM / TWILIGHT HALL
Finally, Mr. James will present Minding The Gap, a new documentary from first time feature director Bing Liu. As the film’s Executive Producer, Mr. James will shed light on the making of this important coming-of-age documentary.