HBO announced their Fall 2013 documentary line up and it’s ruled by women directed features.
They’ll be airing docs from Whoopi Goldberg, Andrea and Sean Fine and Cynthia Wade. Check out the descriptions (courtesy of HBO) and airdates of the women directed docs below.
VALENTINE ROAD (debuting Oct. 7) unravels the school shooting of a young teenager who had begun exploring his gender identity, detailing the circumstances
that led to his murder by a fellow student, as well as its complicated aftermath. Directed and produced by first-time filmmaker Marta Cunningham and
produced by Sasha Alpert (HBO’s “Autism: The Musical”) and Eddie Schmidt (HBO’s “Twist of Faith”), the powerful and disturbing documentary raises questions
about the safety of LGBT teens, while challenging the efficacy of the country’s educational and juvenile justice systems to prevent these kinds of
tragedies. An official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
MONDAYS AT RACINE, OPEN HEART and REDEMPTION (debuting back-to-back Oct. 14) were all nominated for a Documentary Short Subject Oscar earlier this year.
Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, MONDAYS AT RACINE, directed by Cynthia Wade (the Oscar winning “Freeheld”), visits a Long Island beauty salon that
opens its doors to women diagnosed with cancer.
LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM (Oct. 21) explores the remarkable world of 16-year-old Sam Berns, spotlighting his family’s courageous fight to save their son from
the extremely rare and fatal disease Progeria, a progressive aging disorder. An official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2013 Sundance
Film Festival, it chronicles their inspiring, relentless pursuit of a treatment and cure as they empower Sam to enjoy the fullest life possible. Directed
by Sean and Andrea Fine (Oscar winners for “Inocente”).
TALES FROM THE ORGAN TRADE (Nov. 4) is an unflinching descent into the shadowy world of black-market organ trafficking: the brokers, the rogue surgeons,
the impoverished men and women who are willing to sacrifice an organ for a quick payday and the desperate patients who face the agonizing choice of obeying
the law or saving their lives. Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock (Emmy winner for “Frontline: Sex Slaves”); narrated by David Cronenberg; produced by Ric
Esther Bienstock, Felix Golubev and Simcha Jacobovici.
DIAL ONE FOR VETS (Nov. 11) explores the epidemic of suicide among American war veterans. According to the VA, one veteran dies by suicide in America every
80 minutes, and while only 1% of Americans has served in the military, former service members account for 20% of all suicides in the U.S. Since 2001, more
veterans have died by their own hand than in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Directed by Ellen Goosenberg (HBO’s Emmy winning “I Have Tourette’s But
Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me”) and produced by Dana Perry.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY (Nov. 18) celebrates the iconic African-American standup comedienne Jackie “Moms” Mabley, who broke racial and sexual
boundaries. Recently unearthed photography, rediscovered performance footage and the words of numerous celebrated comedians, entertainers and historians
underscore her profound influence. Directed by Whoopi Goldberg.
