the very first american documentary film festival
kicked off thursday night in palm springs
beginning with a gala cocktail party at the colorful
saguaro hotel on palm canyon drive
hosted by camelot theaters in downtown palm springs
the week long festival began with only one screening
oliver stone's comandante
saguaro hotel on palm canyon drive
immediately following, was the screening of the first film
hosted by camelot theaters in downtown palm springs
oliver stone's comandante
the documentary film festival awarded it's very first
special achievement award to the filmmaker
who was on hand to greet the fans and answer questions
special achievement award to the filmmaker
who was on hand to greet the fans and answer questions
the award recognizes achievement in film making
- that makes a difference
supposedly, that's what documentaries are suppose
supposedly, that's what documentaries are suppose
to do, - make a difference
then came all the 'red carpet' excitement...
the lights went down and the show began
the festival is produced in association with
the palm springs cultural center
thursday night's documentary was one that stone
worked on over 10 years ago
it's an intimate look at cuban dictator fidel castro
shooting personal interviews consisting of over 30 hours,
stone boiled it all down to a simmer,
99 minutes of one-on-one time with the communist leader
reading sub-titles while also listening to fidel's personal
translator was tedious, however stone expertly mixed in
historical footage making this film a real history lesson
a candid fidel castro is something to behold
THE FESTIVAL CONTINUES TOMORROW THROUGH APRIL 5TH