Out of My Hand, the story of a Liberian rubber plantation worker struggling to make it as a New York City taxi driver, won the U.S. Fiction Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The film was written and directed by alum Takeshi Fukunaga and edited by Takeshi and fellow alum Eugene Yi. You can see other festival winners here.
Alumni film wins an Emmy!
We Could Be King, which was edited by alums Chris Iversen and David Lieberman, just won a Sports Emmy:
The film, directed by three-time Emmy-nominated documentarian Judd Ehrlich (Magic Camp, Run For Your Life), takes an in-depth and intimate look at urban America’s education crisis, specifically in Philadelphia. Due to minimized budgets, Philly’s Germantown High School was absorbed into their biggest rival, Martin Luther King. Through football, the MLK Cougars move past the longstanding rivalry aside and motivate an entire community.
The Village Voice calls Unicorns a "confident feature debut"
I Believe in Unicorns, the class project for the November/December 2011 and July/August 2012 six-week classes, just got a great review from Village Voice critic Alan Scherstuhl:
The performances are strong, the imaginary visions are suggestive and fleeting, and the film as a whole is swoony, tender, skittish, a little scary — in short, this is what young love feels like. More Meyerhoff, please!
The film was edited by alums Rebecca Laks and Michael Taylor. Read more here. The film is playing at the IFC Center in New York.
Mavis! Selected to Close AFI Docs
In more good news following its acquisition by HBO, Mavis! has been selected as the closing night film at AFI Docs.
The Washington, DC based festival runs from June 17-21. Mavis!, a documentary about the life of musician and civil rights activist Mavis Stapleton, was produced by TEC alum Rachel Mills and edited by TEC alum Amy Foote.
Alumni film premiering at LA Film Fest
Out of My Hand, TEC alum Takeshi Fukunaga's debut feature, will make its North American premiere at LA Film Fest. The film was edited by TEC alum Eugene Yi. Read more about the film and see a short teaser here.
Announcing Our Narrative Teacher for June
We're very excited to announce that Keith Fraase will be teaching the narrative section of our June/July 2015 class!
Keith began his narrative editing career on the 2007 film Elvis and Anabelle, apprenticing under award-winning editor Sandra Adair (Boyhood, School of Rock). He then started a long collaboration with director Terrence Malick, first as Artistic Consultant on Malick’s 2011 Palme d'Or winner The Tree of Life; and then as lead editor on Malick’s next four films, including To The Wonder (starring Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams) and Knight of Cups (starring Natalie Portman and Christian Bale). Their most recent collaboration, Voyage of Time, is an ambitious narrative documentary which spans all existence between the birth and death of our universe and is scheduled to be released in IMAX in 2016.
Click here to register. You can find out more about our six-week class here.
Class film premieres at IFC Center
Congrats to the November/December 2011 and July/August 2012 classes!
I Believe in Unicorns will make its theatrical premiere May 29th at the IFC center. Get the full scoop on the film's official site.
TEC Alum Rebecca Laks served as editor on the film.
TEC at Tribeca
TEC Alums made a strong showing at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. Congratulations to all!
When I Live My Life Over Again
Edited by TEC Alum/Instructor Mollie Goldstein
Associate Edited by TEC Alum/Instructor Betsy Kagen
Christopher Walken and Amber Heard star as father and daughter both struggling at opposite ends of their careers in the music industry.
The Artist is Absent: A Short Film on Martin Margiela
Edited by Alum Helen Yum
A revealing look at the true face of the enigmatic Belgian designer with appearances by some of the most distinguished names in the fashion industry.
The Birth of Saké
Edited by Alum Takeshi Fukunaga
The 144 year-old, family-owned Yoshida Brewery granted unprecedented access to the filmmakers as they lived alongside the workers who dedicate themselves to preserving the art of saké.
Roseanne for President!
Edited by Alum Tyler Walk
Hit the campaign trail with Roseanne Barr during her 2012 presidential bid and uncover a deeply moving portrait of a comedy icon.
Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis in Sleeping with Other People
Sleeping with Other People
Edited by Alum Paul Frank
Reunited at the same co-counseling group Jake (Jason Sudeikis) and Lainey (Alison Brie) swear to keep their relationship strictly platonic while continuing to sleep with other people. Also featuring Amanda Peet, Adam Scott, and Natasha Lyonne.
The Adderall Diaries
Edited by TEC instructor Myron Kerstein
Based on the bestselling memoir by Stephen Elliott, The Adderall Diaries is the story of an author facing writer's block and drug addiction who becomes consumed by a high profile murder case. Starring James Franco, Ed Harris, Amber Heard, Cynthia Nixon, and Christian Slater.
Cartel Land
Edited by Alum Matthew Hamachek
Matthew Heineman's documentary explores the subjective nature of might versus right as he follows the varied groups uniting to stop the rise of Mexican drug cartels.
All Eyes and Ears
Edited by Alums Paul Frost, Michael Taylor, Todd Holmes
Uncover the complexities and nuances of U.S.-China relations through the stories of three key figures: U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, his adopted Chinese-American teenaged daughter Grace, and blind Chinese attorney and activist Chen Guangcheng.
Indian Point
Edited by Alum Stephen Heffner
Did you know there is a nuclear power plant 35 miles north of Times Square? Delve into the uncertain future of nuclear power in the Untied States through the eyes of regulators, environmental activists, journalists, and employees.
TEC Alums Hot in Toronto
Missing People, a July/August 2013 and September/October 2013 class project, premiered at this year's Hot Docs Film Festival to strong reviews. The Hollywood Reporter praised the work of a trio of TEC alums. Way to go guys!
Editors Becky Laks and Adam Kurnitz deftly weave together the various time frames and locations with a feel for the emotional undercurrent, and music supervisor Adam Oelsner's judiciously used samples complement the strong camerawork.
Class film STAY THEN GO now available on iTunes
Stay Then Go, the narrative project in the January/February 2013 six-week class, is being distributed through the Sundance Institute's #ArtistServices program! The film stars Janel Moloney ("The West Wing"). You can find it on iTunes here.