Russian President Vladimir Putin may be absolutely terrible for the world, but he’s a perverse boon to the documentary genre. In addition to the numerous films showcasing the horrors of the war in Ukraine, there’s a burgeoning sub-genre of non-fiction films about the brave individuals risking their lives to fight his regime. The latest is the new documentary by James Jones (Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes), which serves as an unofficial companion piece to the Oscar-winning Navalny. Receiving its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, the ironically titled Antidote provides yet another disturbing reminder of the evils of the current Russian regime.
One of the things necessitating an antidote is, of course, poison, which figures prominently in the film. One of its subjects is an unnamed Russian scientist, whose features are distorted via a technique called “digital veiling” (talk about a growth industry). His specialty was the development of new poisons,...
One of the things necessitating an antidote is, of course, poison, which figures prominently in the film. One of its subjects is an unnamed Russian scientist, whose features are distorted via a technique called “digital veiling” (talk about a growth industry). His specialty was the development of new poisons,...
- 6/8/2024
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A real-life high stakes thriller from Emmy (and BAFTA and Cinema Eye)-winning filmmaker James Jones, Antidote follows a few brave men who have chosen to put their lives (and thus those of their families) on the line to bring down the Putin regime: a whistleblowing insider to Russia’s poison program; the twice-poisoned, Russian-British activist-journalist (and current political prisoner) Vladimir Kara-Murza; and Bellingcat’s Christo Grozev, last seen in Daniel Roher’s Oscar-winning Navalny exposing the murderers who unsuccessfully poisoned the late activist before confinement to a Siberian prison finished the job. Which, […]
The post “Our Film Highlights the Bravery of Those Willing to Stand Up to Putin Despite the Personal Cost, But It Should Also Act as a Wakeup Call”: James Jones on his Tribeca-Debuting Antidote first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Our Film Highlights the Bravery of Those Willing to Stand Up to Putin Despite the Personal Cost, But It Should Also Act as a Wakeup Call”: James Jones on his Tribeca-Debuting Antidote first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 6/7/2024
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
A real-life high stakes thriller from Emmy (and BAFTA and Cinema Eye)-winning filmmaker James Jones, Antidote follows a few brave men who have chosen to put their lives (and thus those of their families) on the line to bring down the Putin regime: a whistleblowing insider to Russia’s poison program; the twice-poisoned, Russian-British activist-journalist (and current political prisoner) Vladimir Kara-Murza; and Bellingcat’s Christo Grozev, last seen in Daniel Roher’s Oscar-winning Navalny exposing the murderers who unsuccessfully poisoned the late activist before confinement to a Siberian prison finished the job. Which, […]
The post “Our Film Highlights the Bravery of Those Willing to Stand Up to Putin Despite the Personal Cost, But It Should Also Act as a Wakeup Call”: James Jones on his Tribeca-Debuting Antidote first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Our Film Highlights the Bravery of Those Willing to Stand Up to Putin Despite the Personal Cost, But It Should Also Act as a Wakeup Call”: James Jones on his Tribeca-Debuting Antidote first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 6/7/2024
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Tribeca Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal doesn’t follow a North Star as she and her team sift through tens of thousands of submissions each year. But as they whittle down those applicants to the 100 or so films comprising the final lineup, themes tend to emerge.
“It’s not like we set out to say, ‘This is what we want to do.’ As an activist film festival, we always look for [political] films,” says Rosenthal, who created Tribeca Festival with Robert De Niro in the wake of 9/11. “This year, there’s a mental health narrative. I don’t know if that’s a post-covid thing.”
Tribeca, now in its 23rd year, will take place from June 5-16 and highlight films led by Kristen Stewart, Lily Gladstone and Jenna Ortega. “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge,” a look at the fashion icon and entrepreneur, will open the festival, with anticipated documentaries about Prince,...
“It’s not like we set out to say, ‘This is what we want to do.’ As an activist film festival, we always look for [political] films,” says Rosenthal, who created Tribeca Festival with Robert De Niro in the wake of 9/11. “This year, there’s a mental health narrative. I don’t know if that’s a post-covid thing.”
Tribeca, now in its 23rd year, will take place from June 5-16 and highlight films led by Kristen Stewart, Lily Gladstone and Jenna Ortega. “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge,” a look at the fashion icon and entrepreneur, will open the festival, with anticipated documentaries about Prince,...
- 6/4/2024
- by Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
The History Channel‘s groundbreaking Canadian original documentary event, “True Story”, is returning for “Part Two” later this month.
The doc offers “a further look at the real and often misrepresented history of Indigenous peoples on the land that is now called Canada,” a press release confirms.
The two-hour feature — that also explores how to move forward from Canada’s colonial past and work towards reconciliation by first learning, then facing, the past — debuts on September 30 in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Lisa Godfrey, Senior Vice President of Original Content and Corus Studios, says, “The History® Channel is proud to provide a platform to amplify and extend the important Indigenous stories that ‘True Story’ has excelled at telling.
“In conjunction with our esteemed production partners at Eagle Vision, we’re pleased to present ‘True Story Part Two’, which will further educate and inform viewers about important issues surrounding truth and reconciliation.
The doc offers “a further look at the real and often misrepresented history of Indigenous peoples on the land that is now called Canada,” a press release confirms.
The two-hour feature — that also explores how to move forward from Canada’s colonial past and work towards reconciliation by first learning, then facing, the past — debuts on September 30 in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Lisa Godfrey, Senior Vice President of Original Content and Corus Studios, says, “The History® Channel is proud to provide a platform to amplify and extend the important Indigenous stories that ‘True Story’ has excelled at telling.
“In conjunction with our esteemed production partners at Eagle Vision, we’re pleased to present ‘True Story Part Two’, which will further educate and inform viewers about important issues surrounding truth and reconciliation.
- 9/1/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Last week after the elimination of Noelle Lambert, Gold Derby ran a poll asking “Survivor 43” fans to name who among the Top 7 castaways they wanted to win the 1 million. The poll results are in and it’s good news for Jesse Lopez. This 30-year-old survey methodologist from North Carolina earned a leading 31 support from viewers, with his closest competition being Karla Cruz Godoy at 20 and Cody Assenmacher at 16. Do you agree or disagree with your fellow “Survivor” viewers?
Here are the complete poll results for who fans want to see as this season’s Sole Survivor:
31 — Jesse Lopez
20 — Karla Cruz Godoy
16 — Cody Assenmacher
10 — Owen Knight
10 — Sami Layadi
8 — Cassidy Clark
5 — Mike Gabler
See ‘Survivor’ deaths: Full list of castaways we’ve lost
Jesse’s backstory is a first for CBS’s reality TV show, in that he was a troubled teen who got caught up with the wrong people and ended up in juvenile hall.
Here are the complete poll results for who fans want to see as this season’s Sole Survivor:
31 — Jesse Lopez
20 — Karla Cruz Godoy
16 — Cody Assenmacher
10 — Owen Knight
10 — Sami Layadi
8 — Cassidy Clark
5 — Mike Gabler
See ‘Survivor’ deaths: Full list of castaways we’ve lost
Jesse’s backstory is a first for CBS’s reality TV show, in that he was a troubled teen who got caught up with the wrong people and ended up in juvenile hall.
- 11/29/2022
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Apple TV Plus has greenlit a timely four-part documentary series about the rise and fall of former Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn.
James Jones, the Emmy-winning filmmaker behind On The President’s Orders and Mosul, is helming the project, which comes from London-based Box To Box Films. BAFTA winner James Gay-Rees (Senna), BAFTA nominee Paul Martin (Diego Maradona) and BAFTA winner Martin Conway (Becoming You) are serving as executive producers
Scottish band Mogwai (ZeroZeroZero) will score the project. Emmy winner Anthony Galloway and Daniel Rosen will serve as executive producers on behalf of the Wall Street Journal.
Told through unprecedented access to the people who were there, alongside the reporting of Wall Street Journal reporters Nick Kostov and Sean McLain, the untitled docuseries will tell the full story of how one of the most admired businessmen on the planet became its most famous international fugitive.
Once one of...
James Jones, the Emmy-winning filmmaker behind On The President’s Orders and Mosul, is helming the project, which comes from London-based Box To Box Films. BAFTA winner James Gay-Rees (Senna), BAFTA nominee Paul Martin (Diego Maradona) and BAFTA winner Martin Conway (Becoming You) are serving as executive producers
Scottish band Mogwai (ZeroZeroZero) will score the project. Emmy winner Anthony Galloway and Daniel Rosen will serve as executive producers on behalf of the Wall Street Journal.
Told through unprecedented access to the people who were there, alongside the reporting of Wall Street Journal reporters Nick Kostov and Sean McLain, the untitled docuseries will tell the full story of how one of the most admired businessmen on the planet became its most famous international fugitive.
Once one of...
- 9/29/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Sky is to tread some familiar, award-winning ground with a revisit to the story of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster as part of a slate of new documentaries that will premiere on the Comcast-owned pay-tv giant in the UK and Ireland.
Sky has commissioned Emmy-winning filmmaker James Jones to produce a definitive 90-minute document of the Soviet power plant’s meltdown in 1986. Titled Chernobyl ‘86, it draws on newly-discovered archive footage and witness accounts to lay bare the tragedy and heroic efforts made to prevent another explosion.
The film will be produced by Top Hat Productions in association with Sky Studios. Jones, who has helmed On The President’s Orders and Mosul, directs the documentary, which will premiere on Sky Documentaries next year.
Sky will be hoping that some of the magic of its highly-decorated drama series Chernobyl, which bagged Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Emmys, rubs off on Chernobyl ‘86. It was...
Sky has commissioned Emmy-winning filmmaker James Jones to produce a definitive 90-minute document of the Soviet power plant’s meltdown in 1986. Titled Chernobyl ‘86, it draws on newly-discovered archive footage and witness accounts to lay bare the tragedy and heroic efforts made to prevent another explosion.
The film will be produced by Top Hat Productions in association with Sky Studios. Jones, who has helmed On The President’s Orders and Mosul, directs the documentary, which will premiere on Sky Documentaries next year.
Sky will be hoping that some of the magic of its highly-decorated drama series Chernobyl, which bagged Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Emmys, rubs off on Chernobyl ‘86. It was...
- 1/25/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: UK-u.S. documentary On The President’s Orders, which chronicles Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s violent ‘war on drugs’, is to be used as evidence by the International Criminal Court (Icc) as part of its ongoing investigation into the government-sanctioned killings.
The film’s Emmy-winning co-directors James Jones and Olivier Sarbil confirmed to us that the Icc asked for the film to be submitted as evidence after the organization opened preliminary investigations last year.
Duterte’s controversial campaign, which includes extrajudicial violence as a crime solution, has stoked international ire. The official death toll of the three-year campaign is put by the country’s government at around 5,000 but activists claim it could be as high as 27,000. The U.N. Human Rights Council is also investigating the purge.
Earlier this year, the Philippines became only the second country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. The organization continues to build...
The film’s Emmy-winning co-directors James Jones and Olivier Sarbil confirmed to us that the Icc asked for the film to be submitted as evidence after the organization opened preliminary investigations last year.
Duterte’s controversial campaign, which includes extrajudicial violence as a crime solution, has stoked international ire. The official death toll of the three-year campaign is put by the country’s government at around 5,000 but activists claim it could be as high as 27,000. The U.N. Human Rights Council is also investigating the purge.
Earlier this year, the Philippines became only the second country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. The organization continues to build...
- 9/24/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The war on drugs has never taken more literal form than under the command of Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, who rose to power on a pledge to rid the country of dealers and addicts alike — and delivered on his promise in the bloodiest fashion possible, with police summarily executing thousands of people over an 18-month period. A real-life atrocity ordered by a cartoon dictator, it would, if not grimly factual, feel like the stuff of grotesque dystopian fiction. In their kinetic, pavement-pounding doc “On the President’s Orders,” filmmakers James Jones and Olivier Sarbil play up to that sense of deranged reality as they hit the streets to observe Duterte’s murderous campaign in action: The result, shot and cut with buzzing urgency, plays as a propulsive dirty-cop thriller minus any genre safety nets.
Set for a summer theatrical release through PBS Distribution, “On the President’s Orders” will probably...
Set for a summer theatrical release through PBS Distribution, “On the President’s Orders” will probably...
- 5/2/2019
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
"Who's our target today?" The first festival promo trailer has debuted for a new documentary titled On The President's Orders, a compelling and incredible inside look at the ongoing, controversial drug war in the Philippines. On The President's Orders was just announced as one of the docs premiering in-competition at the prestigious Cph:dox festival in Copenhagen next month. This is the first feature documentary film that investigates the slaughter of thousands of people in Manilla in 2017, led by the country's President Duterte, who launched a bloody campaign against drug dealers and addicts using executions as one of his key tactics. It seems to confirm, once again, that a government-run "war on drugs" is not as positive or as beneficial as it might seem. Looks like a terrifying, eye-opening film - bravo to the filmmakers for bravely telling this story. Here's the first trailer for James Jones & Olivier Sarbil's doc On The President's Orders,...
- 2/22/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Ai Weiwei film is a companion piece to Human Flow.
Copenhagen-based documentary festival Cph:dox (March 20-31) has revealed its line-up of competition titles for 2019.
Notable world premieres include The Rest, the latest feature from Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei. His previous feature, refugee crisis doc Human Flow, premiered at Venice in 2017 and won multiple awards.
The Rest is a parallel work to Human Flow, again focusing on the refugee crisis, but this time in line with the voice and experience of an individual refugee. Edited down from 900 hours of footage, the film depicts those living in political limbo in Europe,...
Copenhagen-based documentary festival Cph:dox (March 20-31) has revealed its line-up of competition titles for 2019.
Notable world premieres include The Rest, the latest feature from Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei. His previous feature, refugee crisis doc Human Flow, premiered at Venice in 2017 and won multiple awards.
The Rest is a parallel work to Human Flow, again focusing on the refugee crisis, but this time in line with the voice and experience of an individual refugee. Edited down from 900 hours of footage, the film depicts those living in political limbo in Europe,...
- 2/22/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Fire in Babylon and Storyville's Afghan Cricket Club take gongs at annual awards for excellence in documentary making
Two documentaries about cricket scooped prizes at the prestigious Grierson awards on the day the sport hit the headlines after three Pakistan players were found guilty of trying to rig a Test match.
The team behind BBC4's Storyville: Afghan Cricket Club – Out of the Ashes was judged best newcomer on Tuesday at the awards, which celebrate the best in documentary making.
Another winner, in the best historical documentary category, was Fire in Babylon, the theatrically released film about the rise to global dominance in the 1970s and 1980s of the West Indies cricket team.
The awards kicked off with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall winning the best documentary series prize for Channel 4 show Hugh's Fish Fight.
Jury chairman Emma Hindley said the judges agreed Hugh's Fish Fight was "a brilliant piece of campaigning journalism and,...
Two documentaries about cricket scooped prizes at the prestigious Grierson awards on the day the sport hit the headlines after three Pakistan players were found guilty of trying to rig a Test match.
The team behind BBC4's Storyville: Afghan Cricket Club – Out of the Ashes was judged best newcomer on Tuesday at the awards, which celebrate the best in documentary making.
Another winner, in the best historical documentary category, was Fire in Babylon, the theatrically released film about the rise to global dominance in the 1970s and 1980s of the West Indies cricket team.
The awards kicked off with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall winning the best documentary series prize for Channel 4 show Hugh's Fish Fight.
Jury chairman Emma Hindley said the judges agreed Hugh's Fish Fight was "a brilliant piece of campaigning journalism and,...
- 11/3/2011
- by Tara Conlan
- The Guardian - Film News
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