Film Forum Presents

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with the legendary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman about his latest documentary, CITY HALL, moderated by MoMA film curator Josh Siegel on November 1. An inspiring portrait of democracy at work, CITY HALL explores the inner-workings of the city government of Wiseman's native Boston. The film is Wiseman's 45th, and the 14th to open at Film Forum, making him the most often-premiered filmmaker in our 50-year history. CITY HALL is now available for rental in our Virtual Cinema at www.filmforum.org. We are also presenting, in our Virtual Cinema, Wednesdays with Wiseman, a limited series of his classic films accompanied by newly-recorded conversations between Wiseman and other filmmakers. His 1978 documentary SINAI FIELD MISSION, which includes a discussion between Wiseman and Oscar winner Errol Morris, is available through November 10th. His seminal 1970 film HOSPITAL, accompanied by a discussion between Wiseman and Oscar nominees Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, is available through November 17th. Special thanks to Josh Siegel, Michael Tuckman, and Zipporah Films for making today's episode possible. Photo by Adrien Toubiana.

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a conversation around Catherine Gund's new documentary, AGGIE, co-presented by the Asian American Writers' Workshop. AGGIE is the story of the filmmaker's mother, the philanthropist, collector, and MoMA Board President Emerita Agnes Gund, with a focus on her social justice work. In 2017, Aggie sold Roy Lichtenstein's painting, "Masterpiece," at auction for 165 million dollars and used the proceeds to found the Art for Justice Fund, an organization devoted to ending mass incarceration. Today's episode features a Q&A with two Art for Justice grantees: the poet, writer, curator and organizer Mahogany L. Browne and Adnan Khan, executive director and founder of the prison reform organization Restore Justice. We were also joined for a special introduction by producer Tanya Selvaratnam, who produced AGGIE. The Q&A was moderated by scholar, writer, and educator Dr. Rachel Kuo. AGGIE is currently available for rental in our virtual cinema at www.filmforum.org. A portion of all rental fees support Film Forum. Special thanks to Strand Releasing, Aubin Pictures and the Asian American Writers' Workshop for making this episode possible. Photos clockwise from top left: Mahogany L. Browne (Photo by Jennie Bergqvist); Adnan Khan; Tanya Selvaratnam (Photo by KK Ottesen); Dr. Rachel Kuo (Photo by Marino Aguas).

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a conversation around Ric Burns's new documentary, OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE, organized and co-presented with the Bellevue Literary Review. The film chronicles the life and legacy of the celebrated physician, author and professor of neurology Oliver Sacks through his own work and words. We were joined by Kate Edgar, Dr. Sacks's longtime editor and the Executive Director of the Oliver Sacks Foundation and Dr. Sacks's life partner Bill Hayes, the acclaimed author and photographer. The discussion was moderated by Danielle Ofri, Editor-in-Chief of the Bellevue Literary Review. OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE is now available for rental in our virtual cinema at www.filmforum.org. A portion of all rental fees support Film Forum. Special thanks to Zeitgeist Films and the Bellevue Literary Review for making this event possible. Photo by Bill Hayes.

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A between two boundlessly creative women - THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT filmmaker Jan Oxenberg and her longtime friend, Winnie Holzman, creator of My So-Called Life and prolific writer for stage and screen (including the book for Wicked). THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT is Oxenberg's wildy imaginative, deeply personal, and surprisingly funny documentary about the death of her beloved grandmother. Long unavailable since its original premiere at Film Forum in 1992, the movie is now available for rental in our virtual cinema at www.filmforum.org. A portion of all rental fees support Film Forum. Jan Oxenberg photo (left) by Bonnie Schiffman; courtesy of Janus Films.

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a conversation with A THOUSAND CUTS filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz and its subject, the Filipino-American investigative journalist Maria Ressa. The film follows Ressa, whose fearless critiques of The Philippines' autocratic President Rodrigo Duterte, via her popular news site Rappler, recently resulted in an alleged "cyber libel" conviction punishable by up to six years in prison. A THOUSAND CUTS is currently available for home viewing in our Virtual Cinema, at www.filmforum.org. All rental fees support Film Forum. The discussion was moderated by journalist and host of shows on PBS and CNN, Christiane Amanpour.

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with Gero von Boehm, filmmaker of the new documentary HELMUT NEWTON: THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, and the legendary actor-model-filmmaker Isabella Rossellini. The film explores the life and work of fashion photographer Helmut Newton, whose sexually-charged work often toed the line between art and exploitation. Boehm interviews many of Newton's famous subjects in the film, including Rossellini. HELMUT NEWTON: THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL is currently available for home viewing in our Virtual Cinema, at www.filmforum.org. All rental fees support Film Forum. The Q&A was moderated by James Danziger, founder of the Danziger Gallery in New York. Photo: David Lynch and Isabella Rossellini, Los Angeles, 1988 ©Foto Helmut Newton, Helmut Newton Estate, Courtesy Helmut Newton Foundation

We at Film Forum join the rest of the world in mourning the passing of Representative John Lewis on July 17. Lewis was a giant of the Civil Rights Movement and a true American hero. In this episode, dedicated to his memory, Film Forum Presents an interview with filmmaker Dawn Porter, whose acclaimed documentary JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE is now playing in our Virtual Cinema at www.filmforum.org. The conversation, with Film Forum's deputy director, Sonya Chung, was recorded on July 10. Photo by Henny Garfunkel.

We at Film Forum were sad to learn of the recent passing of Kevin Rafferty, a masterful documentary filmmaker. His movies were brilliantly researched and edited – collaging materials from a vast array of sources. Politically astute and surprisingly humorous, Kevin's movies infused wit and intelligence into every subject upon which he focused. All five of his feature films premiered at Film Forum. Most recently, Kevin came to the theater to support the re-release of his 1982 hit film, THE ATOMIC CAFE. The new restoration premiered on August 1, 2018, and was one of the films that launched the re-opening of the theater after a major renovation and expansion. In memory of Kevin Rafferty, Film Forum Presents a special encore episode featuring that evening's Q&A with Rafferty and his ATOMIC CAFE co-directors Jayne Loader and Pierce Rafferty. The Q&A was moderated by Film Forum's Premieres Programmer, Mike Maggiore.

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with Emmy-winning actor/producer Elisabeth Moss and filmmaker Josephine Decker, recorded on July 1, about their acclaimed new drama SHIRLEY. In the film, Moss stars as the brilliant, prickly horror writer Shirley Jackson whose meticulous routine and strained marriage are interrupted when a young pair of newlyweds show up on her doorstep. SHIRLEY is currently available for home viewing in our Virtual Cinema, at www.filmforum.org. All rental fees support Film Forum. The Q&A was moderated by Mark Olsen, a film writer for the Los Angeles Times.