Film Competition - Documentary Films
| Films | Synopsis & Screening Time |
| ALUMINUM SKINS | 2008, 16 min., USA, Documentary Producer/Writer/Director: Ian McCausland & Heather MacDonald A short Documentary that explores the vintage travel trailer scene of Southern California. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 3:30 pm |
ASTRONAUT PAM: COUNTDOWN TO COMMANDER | 2009, 39 min., USA, Documentary Producer/Writer/Director: Renee Sotile, Mary Jo Godges Contact: -email- The sky is NOT the limit! Ride along with Commander Pam Melroy and her crew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on an exciting journey to the International Space Station. Strap in for Mach 25, and float in zero gravity on the space trip of a lifetime. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 12:30 pm |
COMMIT TO THE LINE | 2008, 92 min., Canada/USA, Documentary Writer/Director: Rachelle A. Dermer Producer: Rachelle A. Dermer, Mary Cardaras Contact: -email- An autobiographical film about a cancer survivor and a women's mountain bike camp where the phrase 'commit to the line!' is the phrase shouted by the instructors as they encourage women to face fear and overcome obstacles. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 9:45 am |
DIGITIZE ME | 2008, 11 min., USA, Documentary, Wayne State University Writer/Producer/Director: Tom Djokaj Contact: -email- Digitize Me is a short documentary that takes a look at the digital revolution. Through this film you get an inside look at how it has changed the music industry, and how vinyl has survived through all this change. The film also takes a glance at where the future is going and what it entails. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 3:30 pm |
EVERYTHING BAD IS GOOD | 2009, 60 min., USA, Documentary Writer/Director: Len Richmond Film Website: http://www.BigBearLakeFilmFestival.com Contact: -email- Award-winning BBC filmmaker Len Richmond interviews survivors of cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses, who, after being given a death sentence by conventional doctors, went on to heal themselves solely with natural means (herbs, diet, etc). Len also speaks to renegade medical doctors, Ayurvedic healers, and Chinese herbalists who firmly believe that there is another way, a better way. "Everything Bad is Good is very, very moving, and very, very true. Len Richmond's film is noble and important." - Suzanne Somers Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 2:15 pm |
FEAT: 63 MARATHONS IN 63 DAYS | 2009, 101 min., USA, Documentary Director: Deborah Carr Contact: -email- Feat is the chronicle of one man’s coast-to-coast quest to run 63 consecutive marathons for kids whose own feet lack the strength to run. Endurance runner Tim Borland seeks to raise awareness and funding for children battling the rare terminal disease, Ataxia Telangiectasia or A-T. Unlocking the mysteries of this orphan disease may lead to cures for Cancer. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 12:00 pm |
FINALE | 2008, 54 min., USA, Documentary (Sidebar Showcase) Director: David Strong Producer: Denise Strong Cast: Trudy Strong Contact: -email- Take a tour under the Big Top with Trudy Strong, aerial artist, tiger trainer and 50-year circus veteran. This colorful yet tender documentary combines dramatic historical footage and personal recollections to capture five generations of American circus history in one remarkable family. From the challenges of life on the road to the deep rewards of befriending a group of tigers, Trudy’s story sheds new light on the hearts, minds and souls behind the face paint and sequins. A rare opportunity for viewers young and old to see the circus through new eyes Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 am |
FINDING THEIR OWN DANCE | 2008, 56 min., USA, Documentary Director: Robert Prince Producer: Ellen Van’t Hof Contact: -email- After centuries of Russian and American oppression, the Alutiiq (ah-LOO-tic) natives of Alaska have begun to perform their traditional dances once again. This inspiring documentary, shot on-location in the tiny remote villages of Alaska, reveals the challenges and rewards of rediscovering one's culture. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 12:00 pm |
FORT ROOSEVELT REQUIEM | 2008, 60 min., USA, Documentary Producer/Director: David Dibble Contact: -email- In the middle of California, surrounded by dairies and farms, sprung one of the most unique educational experiences in the world. Created by a principal who 'hated school' when he was a kid, Fort Roosevelt inspired thousands of children to want to learn. "Fort Roosevelt Requiem" chronicles and recreates the magic of Fort Roosevelt and exposes the truth behind its tragic demise. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 12:15 pm |
| FREEDOM TO CHOOSE | 2008, 17 Min., USA, Documentary Director: Michael Nadeau, Kirk Souder Producer: Michael Nadeau, Kirk Souder, Scott Mednick Contact: -email- Rhonda Leland loses a daughter in a fire on Christmas Eve. Her pain leads to drugs and prison for life. One letter, written by her to a professor, enables Rhonda and hundreds of inmates to see that prison isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind. And freedom is a choice away. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 3:30 pm |
HEROES OF ORANGE COUNTY | 2008, 28 min., USA, Documentary Director: Jeanne Meyers, Shaun MacGillivray, James Pribram, Wendy Milette Exec Producer: Jeanne Meyers, Karen Pritzker; Segment Producers: Jeanne Meyers, Geeta Malik, Wendy Milette, Wendy Jewell, Vince Deur Cast: Charlie McMahon, Slater Jewell-Kemker, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Joey Masella Shaun MacGillivary, Doug Miller, Rebecca Miller, Tori Degen, James Pribram, Vince Deur, Jeffrey Briar, Dorothy Meyers Contact: -email- Heroes of Orange County celebrates people working to make a difference in the world in and around OC. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 11:30 am |
INVISIBLE ONES: HOMELESS COMBAT VETERANS | 2008, 43 min., USA, Documentary Director: Mark Schulze Writer: Patty Mooney Producer: Patty Mooney & Mark Schulze Cast: Congressman Bob Filner, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Retired Naval Commander Al Pavich, Brigadier General Bob Cardenas, Rescue Task Forces Director Gary Becks, VA Staff Jessica Brian and Michael Kilmer, David “The Water Man” Ross, Girls Think Tank Director Rachel Jensen, and homeless combat veterans Contact: -email- A documentary about homeless combat veterans in America. How many homeless veterans are there? How do they become homeless? What kind of help are they receiving? What is PTSD? How did the Stand Down begin? These and other questions are answered by experts including Congressman Bob Filner, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Brigadier General Bob Cardenas, and others including homeless veterans and Veterans Administration staff. Shot in HD and green screen. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 1:30 pm |
IOWA GIRLS | 2008, 29 min., USA, Documentary, Boston University Producer/Writer/Director: Donna Reyes Contact: -email- Once the number one spectator sport in Iowa, six-on-six basketball was played by generations of women decades before Title IX. It was so popular that girls regularly played to sellout crowds and attendance at their games often exceeded that of the boys' games. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 11:30 am |
| LAST RIGHTS: FACING END OF THE LIFE CHOICES | 2009, 57 min., USA, Documentary Producer/Director: Karen Cantor Contact: -email- Who decides how life ends? What will be the impact of rationed care – should that come to pass – on patient choice? 'Last Rights: Facing End-of-Life Choices' presents four people who followed different paths at the end of their lives. Their legacies can help each of us deal with end-of-life decisions. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 11:00 am |
LIVING IS WINNING | 2008, 107 min., USA, Documentary Director: Linda Burns Producer: Jeff Keating, Linda Burns Contact: -email-, -email- This award-winning feature length sports documentary retells the life story of Andrew Johnston, a former pro-cyclist, Ironman triathlete and Leukemia survivor. From his introduction to cycling and his humble beginnings in the sport of triathlon, to his diagnosis and successful comeback at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Drew's story is full of action, humor and heart. Overcoming the odds to challenge himself and to inspire others to live life to its fullest, Drew proves that our only limitations are the ones we set for ourselves. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 10:00 am |
MAN OF THE SOIL | 2009, 28 min., USA, Documentary Director: Stacy Astenius, Chloe Weaver Contact: -email- Ben leads a simple life in the small town of Vail, Arizona, running his own business. In order to escape the impending monotony of it all, he vows each day as if it were his last, always in search for the most excitement possible. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 am |
| MORE THAN SKIN DEEP: SKIN CANCER IN AMERICA | 2008, 56 min., USA, Documentary Director: Stanley Kozma Producer: Joseph Costa Contact: -email- or http://www.BigBearLakeFilmFestival.com There will be more cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States this year than all other cancers combined. Skin cancer is a complex medical and social issue that is both biological and behavioral. 'More Than Skin Deep' examines the cultural, historical and social facets of skin cancer, as well as its patient, treatment and research aspects. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 2:30 pm |
| THE SIX DEGREES OF HELTER SKELTER | 2008, 105 min., USA, Documentary Director: Mike Dorsey Producer/Writer: Mike Dorsey, Scott Michaels, Lloyd Bryan Adams Cast: Scott Michaels (voice) Contact: -email- The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter walks in the footsteps of the Manson Family, retelling the story of the Tate/LaBianca murders through visits to the locations where the action went down. Schedule Time: Friday, September 18 at 10:00 am |
TALES FROM THE SCRIPT | 2009, 105 min., USA, Documentary Director: Peter Hanson Writer: Peter Hanson, Paul Robert Herman Producer: Paul Robert Herman Cast: Shane Black, John Carpenter, Frank Darabont, William Goldman, Paul Schrader Contact: -email- Screenwriters ranging from newcomers to living legends share their triumphs and hardships in this probing, insightful, and often hilarious odyssey through the world of movie storytelling. Candid and unafraid to name names, dozens of participants reveal the fascinating creative adventures that gave birth to notorious flops and beloved classics. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 1:15 pm |
TERRY FATOR STORY, THE | 2009, 46 min., USA, Documentary Producer/Writer/Director: Mark Goffman Cast: Terry Fator, David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne, Jerry Springer, Melinda Fator, John McEntee, Scott Sibella, Rick Kerns, Marie Fator Sly, Debi Fator, Darrell Johnson Sissy Johnson, Walter Orange, William King, J.D. Nicholas, Kevin Sorbo, Fred Willard Deborah Gibson, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery Contact: -email- From the day Terry, an unknown and struggling ventriloquist from Corsicana, Texas, blew away the competition on NBC's America's Got Talent, his life changed forever. Within months, he was performing for the President, Oprah, Ellen and Letterman. His whirlwind year culminate with an unprecedented $100,000,000 deal to headline at the Las Vegas Mirage. We experience this roller coaster ride with Terry and his family, starting with his first performances in Corsicana through his opening night at the Mirage. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 1:15 pm |
WHEN I’M NOT ALONE | 2009, 21 min., USA, Documentary, Chapman University Producer/Director: Rhianon Gutierrez Contact: -email- Born female but raised as a male for twenty-eight years, Sam Durbin experienced unspeakable abuse, never learned to read or write, and drifted in and out of institutions. His uncontrollable behavior and disheveled state led doctors to declare him a “hopeless case”. When he found Integrity House, a clubhouse for people with disabilities in Orange County, he learned to read, write, and advocate for himself, eventually becoming a published author and nationwide advocate for people with disabilities. Despite his successes, his past continues to affect him in profound ways—from how he trusts people to his own self-image. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 3:30 pm |
| WHERE THE OCEAN MEETS THE SKY | 2008, 27min., USA, Documentary Director: Barry Berona, Greg Daniels Writer: Narration writer by Katrina Elder Producer: Pia Clemente Cast: Finola Hughes (Narrator) Contact: -email- “Where the Ocean Meets the Sky” is a documentary that explores the annual ritual of Lantern Floating both as an instrument in helping people deal with death, and as a unique experience that draws a diverse crowd of people together in the name of Peace. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 3:30 pm |
WHY DON’T WE RIDE ZEBRAS?  | 2008, 11 min., USA/New Zealand, Animation/Documentary Producer/Director: Hannah Smith Walker Cast: Jonathan Bem (voice) Contact: -email- Have you ever wondered why we don't ride zebras? Or why we aren't drinking moose milk or eating hippo hamburgers? Follow a young zebra as he discovers the one thing keeping him from becoming a domesticated animal. Schedule Time: Saturday, September 19 at 11:45 am |