Alum Updates and HBO Premiere

Finishing Heaven, the documentary project of the September 2007 6-week class, was cut by alum Amy Foote and will premiere on HBO2 September 30th at 8pm. Alum Michael Taylor edited two films that will premiere on HBO within the month. The first is a documentary titled, Youth Knows No Pain, which premieres on August 31st. Heather Smith, Jeff Mehiel and Dave Miller, all alums, were assistant editors on the film. Michael's other HBO premiere, September 3rd, is titled A Dog Year and stars Jeff Bridges. Louise Ford and Alec Styborski, TEC alums, were both assistants on the film.

The Betrayal Airs on P.O.V.

A film that was post supervised by TEC alum Riva Marker just aired on PBS's POV this week. The Betrayal, a documentary from renowned cinematography Ellen Kuras, tells the story of a family 
(actually the co-director of the film's family, Thavisouk Phrasavat) forced to emigrate from Laos after the U.S. waged a secret war during the Vietnam war. New York Times critic A.O. Scott has called the film "Haunting. . . . a work of visual art." And Scott Foundas of Variety writes: "More than two decades in the making, this heartfelt debut documentary feature by veteran cinematographer Ellen Kuras brings an affecting personal dimension to a sprawling sociopolitical narrative..." The film received an Academy Award nomination for best documentary in 2009.

Michael and Michael Have Issues Edited by TEC Alums/Instructors

Michael and Michael Have Issues, a sketch comedy show starring Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, premieres tonight on Comedy Central. TEC Alum and former instructor, Paul Frank edited the show along with TEC instructor Kate Sanford. Alum Eugene Yi was an assistant editor.

Garbage Dreams Featured in DocuWeeks Showcase

Garbage Dreams, the project of the January 2008 6-week class, will be featured in the 2009 DocuWeeks Showcase. DocuWeeks is an event sponsored by the International Documentary Association to help independent documentaries be seen in theaters in both NYC and LA, the two cities a documentary must screen in to be considered for an Oscar nomination. Garbage Dreams is one of 18 features scheduled to play at L.A.'s ArcLight Hollywood and NYC IFC Center. TEC Alums, Marichelle Tañag and Brian Richman were both assistant editors on the film.

Manhattan, Kansas Television Premiere

Manhattan, Kansas, the project of the May 2005 6-week class, will be making its television debut on the Documentary Channel this month as part of their "American Dreamers" series. Many TEC alums were involved in the film's post process: editor, Cindy Lee; supervising editor, Liliah Bankier; associate editor, J.J. Evans; assistant editor, Andrew Pang. The film was also directed by TEC alum Tara Wray.

Finishing Heaven to Premiere on HBO

Finishing Heaven, the project of the September 2007 6-week class, will be premiering on HBO2 September 30th at 8 pm. The film was edited by TEC Alum, Amy Foote, and premiered at the LA Film Fest in 2008.

Class Film, Reporter, Premieres at BAM

Reporter, the project of the November 2007 6-week class, will be screening at BAM this Friday as part of BAMcinemaFEST. The documentary, directed by Eric Metzgar, follows Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof through the Democratic Republic of Congo as he tries to put the country's crises on the international radar. Eric Kohn of indieWIRE writes, "With a series of gorgeous, frequently haunting sequences, Metzgar captures the wide-ranging responses of struggling Africans presented with Kristof and his trusty notepad... Metzgar captures the full complexity of the inherent drama." TEC Alums, Daniel Rosen and Bo Mehrad were the associate editor and additional editor, respectively, on the film. It premiered at Sundance in January and this will be its New York premiere.

Skatopia to Premiere at ACEFest

Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy, the documentary project of the May 2008 6-week class, will premiere at NYC indie film fest ACEFest on Saturday, July 11th. Skatopia the film documents the life of Skatopia, the Appalachian farm where hardcore skating, punk rock and hillbilly culture collide. The film centers on the owner and self-proclaimed leader of the farm, Brewce Martin, who presides over the daily mayhem like a modern-day Jim Jones. Skatopia was edited by TEC alum Ramsey Fendall.

The Missing Person Acquired by Strand Releasing

The Missing Person, which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Fest and stars Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) and Amy Ryan (The Office, Gone Baby Gone), was just snapped up by Strand Releasing. Strand acquired all U.S. rights to what has been called a "delightfully strange noir" by New York Magazine. The Missing Person was edited by TEC alum/instructor Mollie Goldstein and was the project of the November 2007, 6-week class.

Alum Film Wins Best Documentary at Tribeca

Racing Dreams, a film by Oscar nominated filmmaker Marshall Curry, is receiving tons of praise since it screened last month at the Tribeca Film Festival. Scott Feinberg of the LA Times suggests its, "...the best film of the year, thus far." He goes on to say that ,"the three story lines in Racing Dreams unfold and intersect more rivetingly than most original screenplays... largely because Curry, Matthew Hamachek, and Mary Manhardt were skilled enough to sort through 500 hours of raw footage and tell those stories in just 90 minutes." Editor, Matthew Hamachek is an Edit Center alum and both editor Mary Manhardt and director/editor Marshall Curry have been guest lecturers at TEC. The film won best documentary feature at the festival.