Documentary films have become the conscience of the nation, providing a deeper study of contemporary, and often unnoticed, social issues. By using the unique medium of film, Documentarians are able to cultivate a more compelling and fruitful discussion by mixing strongly-driven narratives with vivid imagery.

In recognition of the rising importance of documentaries to public dialogue, the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society is proud to announce its ninth annual Documentary Week

Schedule

August 2, 2023

7:30pm: The Power Of Stone

From the filmmaking duo who created Visions of Home (featuring Heather Neill) and A Painter Who Farms (featuring Allen Whiting), comes The Power of Stone, a documentary film featuring island artist Lew French premiering at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society’s 9th annual Documentary Week Festival.

About the film: The Power of Stone offers a glimpse into the life of renowned stone artist, Lew French, during the time he was working to create the Rose Styron Garden for the Martha's Vineyard Museum. At first, Lew French appears as unyielding as the granite he works with, but beneath this artist’s rigid exterior is a deeply spiritual soul. Though he wakes up at 4am to meditate every day, Lew struggles to quiet his mind. In stone, Lew finds that which he longs for: stillness. As one friend put it, “Don’t be tricked by the idea that he’s a stone mason. He’s sort of a philosopher, artist, spiritual guide who’s working with stone.” This behind-the-scenes look at Lew’s process of creating his first public work— the Rose Styron Garden—takes viewers from a granite quarry in New Hampshire where Lew shares insights into his stone selection to Brazil, where Lew has spent 20 years creating the most singular expression of himself in the remote mountains of the Atlantic Rainforest.

About the Directors: Barbarella Fokos is a writer with multiple Excellence in Journalism Awards. David Fokos is an internationally renowned photographic artist. Together, this creative couple founded Salt & Sugar Productions and, as filmmakers, have been exploring what it is that compels artists to create. Their television show, Art Pulse TV, earned them an Emmy Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment Programming. In a bid to dive even deeper than the magazine-format allowed, Barbarella and David have been creating documentary films about artists whose work captured their attention. Barbarella and David split their time between San Diego and Chilmark.

August 3, 2023

7:30pm: Little Richard: I Am Everything

Director Lisa Cortés’ LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING tells the story of the Black queer origins of rock n’ roll, exploding the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator – the originator – Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard’s complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon’s life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions. In interviews with family, musicians, and cutting-edge Black and queer scholars, the film reveals how Richard created an art form for ultimate self-expression, yet what he gave to the world he was never able to give to himself. Throughout his life, Richard careened like a shiny cracked pinball between God, sex and rock n’ roll. The world tried to put him in a box, but Richard was an omni being who contained multitudes – he was unabashedly everything.

Award-winning director and producer Lisa Cortés generates bold, explosive art that shines light on important stories hidden from view. From helping launch the revolutionary artists RUN-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys to executive-producing the Academy Award®-winning film, Precious, Lisa sparks cultural change through works of unrivaled excellence. Little Richard: I Am Everything (CNN Films), which she directed and produced, had its world premiere in January 2023 as the opening night selection in the US documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was acquired by Magnolia Films. Also premiering at Sundance was Invisible Beauty, the documentary about Black fashion industry pioneer Bethann Hardison, which she produced. In June 2023, The Space Race (National Geographic Documentary Films), premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Cortés directed and produced this gripping saga of African American astronauts at NASA and in space.
In 2020, Cortés directed and produced All In: The Fight For Democracy, tracing the violent history of the voting rights struggle. Emmy-winning HBO documentary, The Apollo, (2019) which Cortés produced, explores African American cultural and political history through the story of the legendary Apollo Theater. Cortés executive produced Precious (2009) which was nominated for six Academy Awards® and won two. The film received the Sundance Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize for best drama. Her film productions have received over 80 international awards and nominations.
Cortés launched her early career as a music executive at the iconic Def Jam label and Rush Artist Management; she also was VP of Artist & Repertoire at Mercury Records and founded the Loose Cannon label. Cortés is a member of the Producers Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Director’s Guild of America. She serves on the Boards of Film at Lincoln Center; Independent Television Services (ITVS); Yaddo, the celebrated artists’ community in Saratoga Springs; the Trajal Harrell Dance Company; and the DGA Focus on Women Committee.

August 4, 2023

7:30pm: Cirque Du Soleil: Without A Net

When Cirque du Soleil moves to reboot its flagship production, O, more than a year after an abrupt global shutdown, both performers and crew members face uncertainty as they work to return to their world-class standards in time for the (re)opening night curtain in Las Vegas. With unprecedented access, filmmaker Dawn Porter (John Lewis: Good Trouble, Trapped) captures the dramatic personal highs and lows of the world’s most famous circus act on its journey back from the existential brink.

Dawn Porter is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work has appeared on ESPN, Netflix, HBO, PBS, and Discovery.

Date: July 31 to August 4, 2023

Location:
Martha's Vineyard Film Center, 79 Beach Road
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

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