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Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams to Open DOC NYC Film Fest

Looking for a chance to see Werner Herzog’s much-anticipated cave-based 3-D documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams (“Radioactive albino crocodiles!”)? You’ll have one at the brand-new DOC NYC film festival (sponsored, in part, by New York Magazine) which kicks off its seven-day run in New York on November 3 with a gala screening of the film. Also of interest: Errol Morris’s Tabloid — about former Miss Wyoming Joyce McKinney, who allegedly kidnapped her Mormon husband in 1977 after he left her to rejoin the church — and a slate of more than 40 new docs. The fest’s just-announced early lineup, after the jump.

Galas
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Werner Herzog) Opening Night - Werner Herzog gains exclusive access to film inside the Chauvet caves of southern France, capturing the oldest known pictorial creations of humankind in their astonishing natural setting. He puts 3-D technology to a profound use, taking us back in time over 30,000 years.

Tabloid (Errol Morris) - The director of The Thin Blue Line and the Academy Award®-winning The Fog of War tells the story of a former Miss Wyoming whose quest for one true love led her across the globe and onto the pages of tabloid newspapers.



Special Event
In Conversation: Errol Morris - Errol Morris changed audiences’ perceptions of documentary film with works such as The Thin Blue Line; Fast, Cheap & Out of Control; and the Academy Award-winning The Fog of War. In this live conversation, he discusses his career with Ron Rosenbaum, a longtime friend, author of The Shakespeare Wars and cultural columnist for Slate.

Tribute to Kevin Brownlow
Kevin Brownlow started out at the age of 18, pioneering the genre of the hybrid documentary as the co-director of It Happened Here that imagined England controlled by the Nazis. He went on to become the preeminent historian of silent film, authoring books such as The Parade’s Gone By and War, the West, and the Wilderness and directing authoritative documentaries on Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Cecil B. DeMille, D.W. Griffith and many others. In this special tribute, DOC NYC is pleased to welcome Brownlow - a few days before he receives an honorary Oscar - for an extended conversation and presentation of highlights from his career.

Viewfinders Competition
Armadillo (Janus Metz) U.S. Premiere - Winner of Cannes Critics Week, Armadillo is a harrowing portrayal of the current conflict in Afghanistan. The film follows a contingent of Danish troops into the chaos of combat in a way that stirs debate over the rules of engagement.

The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan (Henry Corra) - During the Vietnam war, McKinley Nolan mysteriously disappeared - rumored to be either a traitor, captive or American operative. Now his family goes searching for answers.

Discoveries of a Marionette (Bjarte Mørner Tveit) U.S. Premiere - Norwegian director Bjarte Mørner Tveit draws upon a rich personal archive of 8 mm film left by his grandfather Alf, who was secretive about his experiences as a globe-trotting sailor.

Five Weddings and a Felony (Josh Freed) World Premiere - Director Josh Freed turns a Flip camera on his own relationships as a twentysomething. Peeling away neurosis and narcissism, the film is a compelling portrait of modern love.

Kati with an I (Robert Greene) World Premiere - Over the course of three tumultuous days, Kati - a teenage girl in Alabama - has to confront big life choices over love, family and her future. As Kati’s half-brother, director Robert Greene gains an intimacy that makes viewers feel part of the family.

Pink Saris (Kim Longinotto) - In northern India’s state of Uddar Pradesh, the crusading Sampat Pal Devi dispenses street justice like a self-appointed Judge Judy, leading the “Pink Gang” of female enforcers.

The Sound of Mumbai: A Musical (Sarah McCarthy) U.S. Premiere - For one emotional night, a group of children living in a slum in Mumbai, India, get a chance to experience a different world as they perform The Sound of Music with a classical orchestra.

Windfall (Laura Israel) - After wind turbines are proposed for installation in upstate New York, the community’s excitement turns to suspicion over what the project entails. This eye-opening story exposes the dark side of wind energy development and the potential for financial scams.

Metropolis Competition
Lost Bohemia (Josef Birdman Astor) World Premiere - Director Josef Birdman Astor, a resident of the artists’ studios above Carnegie Hall, gives an insider’s account of the protracted battle to save the apartments and pays homage to their rich heritage.

mindFLUX (Ryan Kerrison) World Premiere - This profile of visionary theater director Richard Foreman draws upon interviews with F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe, Yoko Ono, Lou Reed, Suzan-Lori Parks and others to pay tribute to his career.

Mother of Rock: Lilian Roxon (Paul Clarke) U.S. Premiere - Witness to New York’s music scene of the 1960s and 70s, Lillian Roxon was a trail blazer of rock criticism while mingling with the likes of John and Yoko, the Velvet Underground and Janis Joplin.

Puppet (David Soll) World Premiere - Taking us behind the scenes as theater director Dan Hurlin  collaborates with master puppeteers for his play “Disfarmer,” Puppet explores why the this art form has been misunderstood in America.

Ride, Rise, Roar (David Hillman Curtis) - A David Byrne concert film that blends riveting onstage performances with intimate details of the creative collaborations that make the music and performance happen.

To Be Heard (Roland Legiardi-Laura, Edwin Martinez, Deborah Shaffer, Amy Sultan)  World Premiere - Three teenagers Karina, Pearl and Anthony cope with challenges of life in the inner city and find transformation from the radical poetry workshop Power Writing that gives them tools for expression.

Kaleidoscope Family Matinees
Make Believe (J. Clay Tweel) - A group of dedicated teen magicians amaze audiences by performing seemingly impossible feats while pursuing the title of Teen World Champion Magician.

Turtle: An Incredible Journey (Nick Stringer) U.S. Premiere - Presented in 3-D, a loggerhead turtle born on a beach in Florida, rides the Gulf Stream to the frozen north, swims around the entire North Atlantic to Africa and returns to the beach where she was born.

DOC NYC [Official site]

Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams to Open DOC NYC Film Fest