New York, NY (Top40 Charts) First up for FilmRise in May is Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. This incredibly popular HBO documentary - 5.5 million viewers in the first few weeks - from Academy Award and Emmy winning director Alex Gibney takes audiences deep into the controversial world of Scientology. Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "jaw-dropping, scary, unnerving, even disturbingly funny," Going Clear is one doc you'll have to see to truly believe.
Moving from the dark world of Scientology and onto the dark forgotten massacre from Guatemala's decades-long civil war, FilmRise is proud to present Finding Oscar. This debut film from The Kennedy/Marshall Company's documentary division takes a dedicated team on a search to find Oscar, a boy that was raised by the soldiers that killed his family. Directed by Ryan Suffern, produced by Frank Marshall and Suffern, and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Finding Oscar premiered at the Telluride Film Festival.
Rounding out the month's documentary releases are three features that focus on unique and groundbreaking artistic talents. In The Secret Life of Lance Letscher, director
Sandra Adair paints an intimate and psychological portrait of Austin-based collage artist Lance Letscher. This film takes us into the mind and through the work ethic of a true a talent.
It's Not Yet Dark is the unbelievable story of
Simon Fitzmaurice, an Irish filmmaker with ALS (MND). Narrated by Colin Farrell, this film that RogerEbert.com called "incredibly powerful" follows
Simon as he embarks on directing his first feature-length film, My Name is Emily, through the use of his eyes and eye gaze technology. This remarkable and touching story is not to be missed.
Declared "heartfelt" by The Hollywood Reporter,
Divine Divas is the tale of the first generation of Brazilian transvestite artists of the 1960s.
Director Leandra Leal's doc takes us into the Rival Theatre and explores the intimacy and sexual revolution that was all sparked by one of the first stages to host men dressed as women. Nearly sixty years later and the fight for sexual freedom still rages on.
Transitioning from non-fiction stories of artists into dramatic portrayals of artists, FilmRise presents Manifesto starring two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett. Known for her exceptional ability to completely transform and get lost in a character, Blanchett takes her talents to new heights in thirteen distinct, must-see vignettes that incorporate timeless manifestos from 20th-century art movements. Watch as Blanchett gives a tour-de-force performance like only she can in this "breathlessly inventive (RogerEbert.com)" and contemporary call to action.
Executive producer
David Gordon Green and first-time writer/director Amman Abbasi's Dayveon is a moving film that "stands out with its vision, regional flavor and overall personality" according to RogerEbert.com. After the death of his brother, 13-year-old Dayveon spends his summer days roaming the rural streets of Arkansas until he's lured in by the camaraderie and violence of the local gangs.
