Sundance Film Festival -- Film & Media

Who Showed up to our studios during Sundance??

The producer of 'Puugee,' Chikae Honjo, along with Jen, Jett & Charm Jett with Cha Cha Weller, translator extrodinaire.

2008 Academy Award Winner(Michael Clayton), Tilda Swinton & Jett Tilda Swinton snaps another picture of Jett

Coming soon!

www.thefirstsaturdayinmay.com

WINNER ­ BEST DOCUMENTARY
2007 SAVANNAH FILM FESTIVAL

WINNER ­ HBO PRODUCER AWARD
2007 SAVANNAH FILM FESTIVAL

WINNER ­ SPECIAL JURY AWARD
2007 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL

"ENGROSSING ... THREE STARS (OUT OF FOUR)."
- Sports Illustrated

"WONDERFUL ... A SPLENDID MOVIE THAT REMINDS US WHY THE RACETRACK CAN
BE THE MOST MAGICAL OF ALL SPORTS STAGES."
- New York Post

"RIVETING ... COMPELLING, EXPERTLY PACED."
- Washington Post

"STERLING ... IN THE TRADITION OF 'HOOP DREAMS'."
- Newsday

"Puujee" Documentary

Director(s): Kazuya Yamada

Screenwriter(s): Kazuya Yamada

Producers: Chikae Honjo,Arata Oshima
Cinematographers: Hidekazu Sasaki,Yasuhito Simamura
Editor: Makoto Itou
Sound Recordists: Morio Watanabe, Satoru Ohata
Photographer: Yoshiharu Sekino
Associate Director: Tomohito Kodama

World Documentary

Japan, 2007, 110 mins, Color

Description Filmmaker(s) Bio Screenings Contact On a long trek photographing individuals of many countries, photographer Yoshiharu Sekino happens upon a family in Mongolia. They immediately capture his imagination and become subjects in a photo essay he publishes, but he also forms an ongoing friendship with them. This film depicts their initial encounter and the events of the next five years as Sekino goes away and comes back repeatedly, witnessing changes with each return.

At the center of this moving group portrait is the captivating figure of Puujee, a young girl who becomes the film’s pivotal character, and whose destiny seems tied to the hundreds of thousands of agrarian Mongolians who have moved to cities to escape deprivation and the deleterious effects of the new market economy. Already adept at herding animals on horseback, six-year-old Puujee defies Sekino and his omnipresent camera, even though her family members welcome him. Gradually allowing Sekino into her trust, she shares her dream of becoming a teacher. When she finally gets her chance to enter school, the gulf between Puujee and her family yawns ever wider, evident in her rebelliousness and alienation.

Director Kazuya Yamada renders these lives with a disarming simplicity but an equally deceptive sensitivity for arranging images that demonstrate the delicacy and graciousness of a vanishing way of life.
Abounding with human dignity, puujee is an understated masterwork of beauty and humanism.

Producer Chikae Honjo joins Jen and Dr Wright for an exclusive hour long interview. Joined by translator and fellow horse-person Cha Cha Weller, Jen and Charm get the inside details of this award winning and Sundance nominated World Documentary.

WINNER Grand Prix EBS International Documentary Festival WINNER Earth Vision Award Tokyo Global Environmental Film Festival Nominated for a Sundance award (have to cheque which
one)

Personal note - I went to the Monday Jan 21st premier screening of Puujee. Not only was I very honored to be a guest of Ms Honjo, I was incredibly honored I got to view this documentary. It was almost as if I got to meet and get to know Puujee herself. There are very few films that make an impact on a persons life.
My personal experience with Puujee is I left the cinema a better person. - Jennie Hegeman

01.19.08 Puugee at Sundance Stream OGG*

"John Henry" Documentary

Keeping in the spirit of the Sundance Film Festival, Jen and Dr Wright welcome the producers of the Documentary "John Henry" to the show. Chris Coby and Cameron Duddy of Open Sky Entertainment, give us the inside scoop on the life and career of the most winningest horse in U.S. thoroughbred racing history.
A film poised for incredible success, the documentary John Henry could not be a more spectacular tribute to a sporting legend just recently passed. Special guest to be announced.

 

Sundance Film Festival 2007

January 20, 2007

In a two week salute to the Sundance Film Festival, Jen is joined in studio by Bill Bentenson, great-great nephew of the famed Sundance partner Butch Cassidy.
Mr. Bentenson has written and lectured extensively on Butch and has collaborated on Documentaries and Historical episodes on his great-uncle's life including the recently aired PBS special. Luckily, Bill was able to pull his wife (Liz) and daughter
(Hailey) away from the festival to share their insights on the family secrects. Did Butch and Sundance actually die in Bolivia? Or did they make it back to America to lead unassuming lives to the end of their days? You might just be shocked at the answer...

20.07 Butch Cassidy @ Sundance Stream or OGG*

January 27, 2007
In a two week salute to the Sundance Film Festival, Jen answers the question "What's it like to have your horse in pictures?" Join her and former U.S.
Equestrian Team Rider for Endurance, Beverly Gray.
From local, national and international campaign, learn the ins and outs of dealing with horses in the film and media industry. (Keep your eyes and ears open for the release of a major motion picture based on Bev's life, Catch The Wind)

01.27.07 Horses in Film & The Media Stream or OGG*

 

Catch the Wind- By: Dale Ross

Horses used to pull the ore carts in the silver mines of Park City, Utah. One day the mines received new electrical equipment, and the horses sold at auction. Omner was one such horse, but he broke free and ran into the mountains.