UPCOMING: The Corporation is screening at Toronto’s Hot Docs in the “Ripping Reality” program, in the company of other such classics as Darwin’s Nightmare, The Fog of War, and Iraq in Fragments.

Sunday, May 09, 2010 – 12:30 pm, Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue.

SOME ACHBAR EXEC PRODUCED FILMS COMING SOON TO DOXA IN VANCOUVER!   read on…

Oh, The Corporation! One of the things I have always noted is the staying power of this film.  Yes, it’s the “film that wouldn’t die,” quips Mark Achbar, who still seems surprised by this. Surprise, and fatigue after all these years notwithstanding, he’s gone on to support a lot more films through The Corporation’s influence.

Back in January we wanted to do an ‘anniversary’ e’Zine as it’s been six years since The Corporation first started it’s official release. On January 16, 2004, we began what was to be the Canadian record-breaking run of the film. On the same day the film also screened at The World Social Forum in Mumbai, and at the Sundance Festival in Salt Lake City. 

And in January 2010, as this decade turned, The Corp found itself in two “top ten” lists for the decade — Eugene Hernandez of Indie Wire,  lists is as on of the top 10 docs of the decade and  Peter Hall of Hollywood.com puts in his top 10 of underrated movies of the ’00’s.

The Achbar Collection: Two New Launches at DOXA – PAX AMERICANA & BANANAS!*

The Corporation has also spwaned a uniquely produced “collection” of films … Achbar reports: “The Corporation’s box office success eventually triggered a Telefilm Canada incentive program called a “performance envelope” which, according to some byzantine formula, set aside an astonishing amount of funds for the exclusive use of my company. This thrust me into an unusual position. Whereas previously I had to beg for three years to finance a film, I found myself controlling more documentary film investment money than some of the broadcasters I used to beg from: $2.4m!”

“Conditions applied”, he adds  “and the timeframe rules made it impossible for me to seriously consider using the funds for a project of my own, but I was able to participate in the financing and the shaping of 10 projects by other filmmakers, including four, million-dollar-plus theatrical feature documentaries. Four films are now finished and two of them will be playing at DOXA in Vancouver.”

Denis Delestrac’s “PAX AMERICANA & The Weaponization of Space”  will be theatrically released in Canada by Kinosmith in the spring, and we’re not sure by who yet in the US; it is represented internationally by Films Transit. It  premiered at RIDM in Montreal and IDFA in Amsterdam, and won Best Documentary at Whistler. A short version was broadcast by CBC on “The Nature Of Things”.

Hello Cool World will be promoting Pax Americana as a DOXA community sponsor. Buy Tickets now!

Fredrik Gertten’s controversial “Bananas!*” (supported in development), which The Corporation’s Bart Simpson produced, is about pesticide-poisoned banana workers from Nicaragua suing a gigantic transnational corporation, Dole Foods, for health problems including sterility. The film’s story and the story of the film after its release gets complicated. One judge ruled for some of the workers, resulting in a multi-million dollar award. On appeal, another judge ruled aspects of their case fraudulent and threw out the award. Dole sued the filmmaker for defamation, but subsequently dropped the suit. www.bananasthemovie.com Bananas!* at DOXA.

We’ll be updating on all the films this “Achbar” fund has helped in or upcoming e’Zine.

In the meantime, please continue to support the films —

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Go see these films at DOXA!