SILVERDOCS 2007

Silver Spring, Maryland, January 30, 2007—SILVERDOCS announced today that it will honor Jonathan Demme at the Charles Guggenheim Symposium, a centerpiece of the six day documentary festival which takes place in June just outside in DC.  The symposium, named after the late, four-time Academy Award® Winner, honors a filmmaker who has mastered the power of the documentary to capture current events and frame history and who inspires audiences with powerful explorations of the complexity of the human experience.

Demme’s documentary work includes last year’s popular portrait of an American musical icon, NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD (2006); the Award-winning story of a Haitain journalist and human rights activist THE AGRONOMIST (2003); STOREFRONT HITCHCOCK (1998); COUSIN BOBBY (1992); SWIMMING TO CAMBODIA (1987); STOP MAKING SENSE (1984) and projects featuring Bruce Springsteen, New Order, Neil Young and the Fine Young Cannibals.

Demme is currently at work on two documentaries both of which address compelling and controversial issues.  In HE COMES IN PEACE, Demme and his crew follow former U.S. President Carter across the U.S. as he promotes his book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.”  Carter, who has written more than 20 books, speaks in the film about how to achieve peace in the middle east and his life long philosophy of human compassion.  Demme is also directing RIGHT TO RETURN about the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

Demme has directed over 25 films and been nominated for 20 Academy Awards.  He was honored with the Oscar for Best Director in 1992 for THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991); his work has left an indelible mark on American film history and includes films such as PHILADELPHIA (1993), THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (2004) and BELOVED (1998).

As part of the symposium, SILVERDOCS will screen a series of excerpts from Demme’s body of documentary work.  Following the screening Demme will be joined on stage by special guests for a discussion of his career.  More details will be released closer to the Festival.

Journalists interested in a feature story on Mr. Demme or attending the event should contact Jody Arlington 202.316.4316 or Jarlington@AFI.com.

 

About SILVERDOCS

SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival brings the best new documentaries to Washington, DC, audiences, with six days of programming, showcasing 100 films from over 40 countries, plus special screenings and the 4-day International Documentary Conference.  Now in its fifth year, SILVERDOCS is fast becoming the most talked about documentary festival in the United States. The Festival—which will take place June 12 – 17, 2007—serves as a launch pad for independent documentaries, and affords international filmmakers access to US audiences.  SILVERDOCS provides business and creative connections between filmmakers, broadcasters, distributors, and funders from both established and emerging media markets at the concurrent International Documentary Conference.

The Festival takes place at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, a year-round cinema complex presenting first-run art house film, calendared screening series and themed festivals.  The 49,000 square-foot art deco complex houses three theaters—one historic, two new state-of-the-art stadium-style theaters—and a café; it is located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, just across the street from Discovery World Headquarters.   For more information, go to www.SILVERDOCS.com.

 

About the American Film Institute

AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media.  AFI trains the next generation of filmmakers at its world-renowned Conservatory, maintains America's film heritage through the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and explores new digital technologies in entertainment and education through the AFI Digital Content Lab and K-12 Screen Education Center. As the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the US, AFI ON SCREEN encompasses the annual AFI FEST presented by Audi: AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival—as well as year-round programming at ArcLight Hollywood and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, including SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival.  AFI AWARDS, the annual almanac for the 21st century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year, while AFI's 100 Years . . . series has ignited extraordinary public interest in classic American movies. And, during the past 34 years, AFI’s Life Achievement Award has become the highest honor for a career in film. Additional information about AFI is available at AFI.com.

 

About Discovery

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media company with operations in 170 countries and territories reaching nearly 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI has over 100 networks of distinctive programming representing 29 trusted brands including Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. Other properties include Discovery Education and COSMEO, a revolutionary online homework help service, as well as Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. Discovery brings the real world to the whole world through global multiplatform initiatives including Discovery Travel Media, Discovery Health Media, Discovery Animal Plant Media Enterprises, Discovery Mobile and multiple broadband services. DCI’s ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company’s Founder and Chairman. More information about Discovery and its businesses can be found at www.discovery.com.