On July 9, 2009, I received an email from Pierre Rissient that read, simply, “Do you know the email and phone of Dan Talbot? It is urgent.” I never knew exactly what was so urgent, but I took it for granted that it was a matter of cinema. For Pierre and Dan, two genuine heroes, everything to do with cinema was urgent. This year’s retrospective section pays tribute to both men, who passed away within six months of each other. Below, you’ll read about the crucial roles they played in movie culture, embedded within descriptions of some films that they treasured. —Kent Jones
Q&A with Pamela B. Green and Jodie Foster
This energetic documentary tells the story of Alice Guy-Blaché, a true pioneer who got into the movie business in 1894, at the age of 21 before becoming head of production at Gaumont and directing films. Narration by Jodie Foster.
North American Premiere · Q&A with Gastón Solnicki on September 30
Gastón Solnicki (Kékszakállú, NYFF54) pays tribute to his great friend Hans Hurch, one-time film critic and assistant to Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet, in this moving communion with a friend whose presence is felt in the memory of the places, the people, the coffee, and the films he loved.
U.S. Premiere · Q&A with Margarethe von Trotta on October 8
On the occasion of Ingmar Bergman’s centenary comes this lovely, personal film from one of his greatest admirers, Margarethe von Trotta, a tribute from an artist with such a deep affinity for the subject.
