Premiering at Sundance this week, Eric Daniel Metzgar’s new film is attracting quite a bit of attention in Park City and online. Already acquired by HBO, it could be because at this point with two acclaimed works under his belt, Metzgars work is highly anticipated. As a filmmaker he continues to push the boundaries of nonfiction filmmaking as an art form, using stunning cinematography and single person narration as an opportunity to share his ability as a poet.
It could aslo be the subject matter. Metzgar follows two-time Pulitzer Prize winning renowned NYT journalist Nicholas Kristof through the Congo, covering the genocide AND the current state of journalism.
It could also be the fact that the film has acquired quite a well-known Exec. Producer, Ben Affleck. Affleck has long been an advocate for ceasing the genocide in Eastern Congo and his star power will no doubt help with publicity.
And its most likely a combination of all three. But we couldn’t be more excited. This film will shed new light on a intense subject and I for one am very excited to hear what Metzgar has to say.
Trailer below. Nice interview with Eric Metzgar at Sundance here. Review from IndieWire here.
This is going to be great and I look forward to catching it somewhere on the circuit soon.
It also gets me thinking about celebs’ roles in nonfiction filmmaking. With Joaquin Phoenix supposedly switching gears to a career in hip hop and his brother-in-law, Casey Affleck directing a documentary about his switch from film to music and Casey’s brother Ben working on docs….whose working on fictional narratives?? The formula does seem to work…Remember last years acclaimed doc Crawford? The film had an Advisory Board consisting of such A-list celebs as Ted Danson and Jake Gyllenhaal, and had quite a run ending with an exclamation point on Hulu.com. More on the rise of A-list celebs getting behind non-fiction here.
