F3PR: Kate McKinnon to receive CinemaCon Comedy Star of the Year Award

PRESS RELEASE

KATE MCKINNON TO RECEIVE
“CINEMACON® 2018
COMEDY STAR OF THE YEAR AWARD”

LIONSGATE TO RELEASE
THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME
ON AUGUST 3, 2018

WASHINGTON D.C. (February 22, 2018) – Kate McKinnon will receive the “CinemaCon® Comedy Star of the Year Award,” it was announced today by CinemaCon Managing Director, Mitch Neuhauser. CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) will be held April 23-26, 2018 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. McKinnon will be presented with this special honor at the “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards” ceremony taking place on the evening of Thursday, April 26, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, hosted by the Coca-Cola Company, the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon.

http://blog.themoviereport.com/search/label/CinemaCon “From her show stopping and Emmy Award winning performances on Saturday Night Live to her commanding performances on the big screen, Kate McKinnon has entertained audiences around the world with her hilarious brand of comedy,” noted Neuhauser. “We could not be more thrilled to present her with this year’s ‘CinemaCon Comedy Star of the Year Award.’”

McKinnon can be seen later this summer starring alongside Mila Kunis in The Spy Who Dumped Me, to be released by Lionsgate on August 3, 2018. Audrey (Kunis) and Morgan (McKinnon), are two thirty-year-old best friends in Los Angeles, who are thrust unexpectedly into an international conspiracy when Audrey’s ex-boyfriend, who was actually a spy, shows up at their apartment with a team of deadly assassins on his trail. Surprising even themselves, the duo jump into action, going on the run throughout Europe from assassins and a suspicious-but-charming British agent, as they hatch a plan to save the world. The film is produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Erica Huggins and marks the feature-film directorial debut of Susanna Fogel.

McKinnon has entertained millions of viewers with her critically acclaimed impressions of such notable public figures as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jeff Sessions, Kellyanne Conway, Ellen DeGeneres and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Saturday Night Live, earning her two Emmy Awards, a Critics’ Choice Award and an American Comedy Award. Her most recent films include the reboot of Ghostbusters, Rough Night, and Office Christmas Party. In addition, she has lent her voice to the animated features Angry Birds, Finding Dory, and Ferdinand along with several series including The Simpsons, Family Guy, Nature Cat, and The Magic School Bus Rides Again.

About CinemaCon

CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry -- from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas -- all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.

CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. CinemaCon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.

About NATO

The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 57 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.

F3PR: J.A. Bayona to receive CinemaCon International Filmmaker of the Year Award

PRESS RELEASE

J.A. BAYONA TO RECEIVE
CINEMACON INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER
OF THE YEAR AWARD

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM TO BE RELEASED
BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES JUNE 2018

WASHINGTON D.C. (February 15, 2018) – J.A. Bayona, the director of Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s upcoming Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, will receive the “CinemaCon® International Filmmaker of the Year Award,” it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon . CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), will be held April 23 – 26, 2018 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Bayona will be presented with this award during the International Day Luncheon on Monday, April 23.

“From the moment J.A. Bayona’s films debuted on the big screen there was no doubt that his work would excite, entertain and engage audiences around the world,” noted Neuhauser. “With the upcoming Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Bayona’s work is sure to captivate new audiences around the globe—as he brings his signature touch to what has been one of the biggest franchises of all time.”

This summer, Bayona brings his direction to one of the most popular and successful series in cinema history with an all-new motion-picture event that sees the return of favorite characters and dinosaurs – along with new breeds more awe-inspiring and terrifying than ever before in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

It’s been four years since theme park and luxury resort Jurassic World was destroyed by dinosaurs out of containment. Isla Nublar now sits abandoned by humans while the surviving dinosaurs fend for themselves in the jungles.

When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event. Owen is driven to find Blue, his lead raptor who’s still missing in the wild, and Claire has grown a respect for these creatures she now makes this her mission. Arriving on the unstable island as lava begins raining down, their expedition uncovers a conspiracy that could return our entire planet to a perilous order not seen since prehistoric times.

Stars Pratt and Howard return alongside executive producers Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. They are joined by co-stars James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall and Isabella Sermon, while BD Wong and Jeff Goldblum reprise their roles.

The epic action-adventure is written by Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow and its co-writer, Derek Connolly. Producers Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley once again partner with Steven Spielberg and Trevorrow in leading the filmmakers for this stunning installment. Belén Atienza joins the team as a producer.

Born in Barcelona, Bayona grew up with a passion for film leading him to studying directing,at the Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia (ESCAC). After directing two short films, My Holidays and The Sponge Man, Bayona met screenwriter Sergio G. Sánchez, whose script The Orphanage became Bayona’s first feature film. The Orphanage world premiered at the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival—to a 10-minute standing ovation—before it was released nationally in Spain. It achieved the highest four-day box-office of the year and, at the time, the second-highest opening for a Spanish film. The film went on to be nominated for 14 Goya Awards, winning seven, including Best New Director. Bayona followed up The Orphanage with The Impossible, starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland, which grossed more than $180 million at the worldwide box office and earned Watts Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Academy Award®—nominations, while also winning five Goya Awards and six Gaudí Awards, including Best Director at both ceremonies. In addition, he directed the first two episodes of the Showtime series Penny Dreadful and most recently directed the feature film A Monster Calls, which won nine Goya Awards, including Best Director and became the biggest grossing film of the year in Spain.

About CinemaCon

CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry -- from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas -- all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.

CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. CinemaCon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.

About NATO

The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 57 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.

F3PR: Crumble Catering serving up the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party

PRESS RELEASE

CRUMBLE CATERING SERVING UP
THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION
ACADEMY AWARDS® VIEWING PARTY

A Labor of Love with Chef Wayne Elias and
Chef Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca

HOLLYWOOD, CA – On Sunday, March 4, 2018, at West Hollywood Park in West Hollywood, CA, Crumble Catering will once again kick into high gear, preparing over 1,000 five-course meals in a massive undertaking seamlessly executed by some of the top Chefs in the industry. As the official caterers for the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party for a 15th year, they are tasked with serving and pleasing the palates of Hollywood's biggest A-listers.

This year, thanks to BBVA Compass, Crumble and Chef Wayne Elias team up with Chef Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca, a Michelin three-star restaurant located in the medieval city of Girona in Catalunya in Northern Spain. The talented Chef and his brothers Jordi and Josep Roca are masters in their respective art of cuisine with Joan handling primary Chef duties, Jordi as patissier, and Josep as sommelier. Their food is complex, incorporating cutting-edge techniques and multiple ingredients to create highly stylized plates. Their dishes are designed to evoke memories, emotions and the landscape of their hometown in Northern Spain.

When it comes to creating mouth-watering and inspiring cuisine, Chef Wayne and his business partner of 27 years Chris Diamond, co-owners of Crumble Catering and the Los Feliz restaurant Rockwell: Table & Stage, are veterans in the field.

Diamond commented, “Going into our 15th year working with the Elton John AIDS Foundation for their annual Oscars soiree has been nothing short of an absolute dream come true!”

The planning for this year’s party literally commences at the conclusion of the previous year. Chef Wayne works hand-in-hand with Diamond and Chefs Joan, Jordi, and Josep Roca and his team on a one-of-a-kind-menu for the most discerning group of assembled VIPs and donors.

On tap this year is yet another sumptuous five-course dinner served on-site where all the action takes place, with a plethora of big screens broadcasting the live Oscar telecast. West Hollywood Park is transformed into a city within a city, with a sprawling array of custom-built pavilions featuring sparkling décor, state of the art lighting, projection, and displays. It takes an army of 150 servers and bartenders and 70 kitchen staff to make the evening flawless.

For Chef Wayne, being such an integral part of this event is an honor, remarking, “It’s a true test of nerve and skill having to prepare such a large amount of courses for some of the most recognizable people in the world. It takes a village, and I am proud to serve alongside my hard-working team.”

From its humble beginnings in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised more than $400 million over the past two decades to challenge discrimination against people affected by the epidemic, prevent infections, provide treatment and services, and motivate governments to end AIDS.

Over the years, Crumble Catering has catered hundreds of A-list events from Harry Potter to Criminal Minds Beyond Borders, to Creed, Live By Night; along with cast and crew screenings for Argo, Coat of Many Colors, and Cloud Atlas. Most recently Crumble Catering has provided services to major events and premieres for Blade Runner 2049, CHiPs, Jumanji, Paddington 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Steven Tyler Grammy Viewing Party for Janie’s Fund, John Varvatos, Maxfields and more! Whether it’s an elegant dinner for 10, or a major corporate party for 5,000, Crumble Catering can make it effortless and fun. For more information, visit: CrumbleCatering.com

ABOUT THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION

At EJAF, we believe AIDS can be beaten. We act on that belief by raising funds for evidence-based programs and policies, and also by speaking out with honesty and compassion about the realities of people’s lives. Sir Elton John created EJAF 25 years ago, first in the United States in 1992 and then in the United Kingdom in 1993. Through hard work and with the help of far-sighted individuals, foundations, and corporations, the two foundations together have raised more than $400 million over the past quarter century to challenge discrimination against people affected by the epidemic, prevent infections, provide treatment and services, and motivate governments to end AIDS. The U.S. foundation focuses its efforts on programs in the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean, while the U.K. foundation funds HIV-related work in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Join us in speaking out, taking action, and contributing to our efforts to achieve a world without AIDS. More information at www.ejaf.org.

The Movie Report wants to attend all your special events for coverage! Please send any and all invitations to this address. Thanks!

F3PR: Tiffany Haddish to receive CinemaCon Female Star of Tomorrow Award

PRESS RELEASE

TIFFANY HADDISH TO RECEIVE
“CINEMACON® 2018
STAR OF TOMORROW AWARD”

HADDISH’S NEXT FILM, NIGHT SCHOOL,
TO BE RELEASED BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES
ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

WASHINGTON D.C. (February 13, 2018) – Tiffany Haddish will receive the “CinemaCon® Female Star of Tomorrow Award,” it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. CinemaCon, the official convention of National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), will be held April 23 - 26, 2018 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Haddish will be presented with this special honor at the “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards” ceremony, which takes place on the evening of Thursday, April 26, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, hosted by the Coca-Cola Company—the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon.

“Since breaking out on the big screen with her showstopping role in Girls Trip, Tiffany Haddish has established herself as one of the most sought-after comedic talents in film,” noted Neuhauser. “With her unfiltered confidence and signature humor, she is sure to have audiences rolling in the aisles for years to come.”

On September 28, 2018, Haddish can be seen starring alongside Kevin Hart in Night School. Hart and producer Will Packer, who partnered for the hit Ride Along and the Think Like a Man series, bring their signature style to the film that is based on a story by Hart. The comedy from Haddish’s Girls Trip director Malcolm D. Lee follows a group of misfits who are forced to attend adult classes in the longshot chance they’ll pass the GED exam. Co-stars Taran Killam, Rob Riggle and Romany Malco join Hart and Haddish on-screen for the film that Hart produces for his Hartbeat Productions, and Packer via his Will Packer Productions.

First showing her talent for stand-up comedy as a child, Haddish was steered toward stand-up by her social worker, who enrolled her into the Laugh Factory Comedy Camp for children. She was an early comedic standout who first appeared on Def Comedy Jam, Who’s Got Jokes? and Reality Bites. In August 2017 she debuted her first comedy special for Showtime, titled Tiffany Haddish: SHE Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood. On the small screen, she was a series regular on NBC’s The Carmichael Show and landed recurring roles on the soap-opera series If Loving You Is Wrong and Real Husbands of Hollywood. She can next be seen starring alongside Tracy Morgan in the new series The Last O.G. She recently starred on the big screen in the blockbuster Girls Trip and in Keanu. In addition to Night School, she is currently developing Limited Partners and The Temp, both in which she will executive produce and star. Haddish has also released her memoir, The Last Black Unicorn, which made The New York Times bestseller list. She recently became the first black female stand-up comedian to host Saturday Night Live.

About CinemaCon

CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry -- from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas -- all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.

CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. CinemaCon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.

About NATO

The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 57 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.

F3PR: Kurt Rieder to receive 2018 CinemaCon Passepartout Award

PRESS RELEASE

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX INTERNATIONAL’S
KURT RIEDER TO RECEIVE 2018
CINEMACON® PASSEPARTOUT AWARD

WASHINGTON D.C. (February 8, 2018) – Kurt Rieder, Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific, Twentieth Century Fox International will receive this year’s “Passepartout Award,” it was announced today by CinemaConManaging Director, Mitch Neuhauser. The CinemaCon “Passepartout Award” is presented annually to an industry executive who demonstrates dedication and commitment to the international marketplace. CinemaCon, the official convention of NATO, will be held April 23-26, 2018 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Rieder will be presented with this honor at the International Day Luncheon taking place on Monday, April 23, 2018.

“I’m proud to say I’ve known Kurt Rieder for more than 20 years. I know firsthand how dedicated and committed he is to the industry from both an exhibition and distribution standpoint and how well respected he is by his peers,” noted Neuhauser. “CinemaCon is delighted to single him out for his great drive and passion when it comes to the betterment of the motion picture theatre industry.”

With over 26 years of experience in the international film industry, Rieder took on his most current position with Twentieth Century Fox International in June of 2017. Since joining he has been responsible for establishing the Asian regional office in Singapore and the release of War for the Planet of the Apes, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Murder on the Orient Express and The Greatest Showman throughout Asia.

Rieder most recently served as CEO of Mars Cinema Group, the leading exhibitor in Turkey. Supported by a 1,600-person team controlling over 750 screens in 32 provinces, Rieder helped his investors sell Mars to CGV in 2016.

In 2003, Rieder joined United International Pictures (UIP) as a Vice President, and was charged with marketing and distributing Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks films in South East Asia, before being elevated to Senior VP and adding Japan, Korea and China to his portfolio two years later.

In 2009, he was named Managing Director of Artisan Gateway, Asia’s leading film consulting firm, and represented clients including the MPAA, IMAX, Galaxy Studio and UIP in several territories, including Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, China and Turkey. He served as CEO of leading cinema circuit Golden Village starting in 2011 and led the company to record annual profits in his two-year stint, before joining Mars in 2013.

About CinemaCon

CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry -- from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas -- all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.

CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. CinemaCon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.

About NATO

The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 57 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.

F3PR: Alejandro Ramirez Magana to receive 2018 NATO Marquee Award at CinemaCon

PRESS RELEASE

CINÉPOLIS’ ALEJANDRO RAMÍREZ MAGAÑA TO RECEIVE
2018 NATO MARQUEE AWARD AT CINEMACON®

CinemaCon® to take place April 23-26, 2018

WASHINGTON D.C. (January 31, 2018) – The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) will honor Alejandro Ramírez Magaña, Chief Executive Officer of Cinépolis, with the 2018 NATO Marquee Award during this year’s CinemaCon, it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. CinemaCon, the official convention of NATO, will be held April 23-26, 2018 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Mr. Ramírez is being singled out by NATO for his unequalled dedication, commitment and service to the motion picture theatre industry. He will receive his industry tribute as part of CinemaCon's "State of the Industry: Past, Present and Future" presentation on Tuesday morning, April 24 which will feature MPAA Chairman & CEO, Charles Rivkin, making his first industry appearance and address.

“As our industry becomes increasingly global, it is appropriate that our most significant award goes to a truly global exhibitor,” noted John Fithian, President & CEO, NATO. “With operations across four different continents, Cinépolis brings movie-going magic to millions of guests. On a personal level, with his commitment as Chairman of the Global Cinema Federation, Alejandro has become the leader of a united global industry. On behalf of theater owners everywhere, congratulations on this well-deserved honor.”

Alejandro Ramírez Magaña serves as Chief Executive Officer of Cinépolis, one of the largest film exhibition companies in the world with operations in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, India, the United States, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panamá. All in all Cinépolis operates more than 647 theatres (5,313 screens) globally, employing more than 37,000 people. He currently serves as Chairman of the Mexican Business Council and of the Morelia International Film Festival and serves on the Boards of BBVA Bancomer, the Mexican Competitiveness Institute, the Sundance Institute and the Harvard Board of Overseers. He was previously Mexico’s Representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Technical Secretary of the Social Cabinet in the Executive Office of the President of Mexico. In addition he has worked for the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program in the areas of poverty and human development. In 2005 he was appointed as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and served as co-chair at the WEF’s Annual Meeting in 2012. Also in 2012, President Calderon appointed him as Chair of the B20, the G20’s Business Summit. He holds a BA in Economics from Harvard University, an MSc in Development Economics from the University of Oxford and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Most recently Mr. Ramírez was named Chairman of the newly formed Global Cinema Federation (GCF), a worldwide body representing the global interests of exhibitors in more than 90 territories. The industry’s two leading trade associations, NATO and UNIC, along with the 12 international cinema companies, are the founding members of the new group.

About CinemaCon

CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry -- from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas -- all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.

CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. CinemaCon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.

About NATO

The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 57 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.

The Movie Report #953, January 26, 2018

#953, January 26, 2018

MOVIES:

• A Better Tomorrow 2018
  
• (Maze Runner:) The Death Cure
  
• Mom and Dad
  
• Padmaavat
  
• Please Stand By
  
• Where's Daddy?
  

The Movie Report wants to attend and cover all your film events and press junkets! Please send any and all invitations to this address. Thanks!

Review: Where's Daddy?

; Not Rated
BUY on Amazon:
DVD!

The title query of the documentary Where's Daddy? is one too often asked by children in African-American households, and director Rel Dowdell tackles how the mechanism of the child support system contributes to that--but not in the way one typically expects. The viewpoint here is squarely from one generally never considered: that of the fathers who are not the stereotypical deadbeats, but rather ones who do want to be a presence and provider for their children yet are stifled by the system's crippling financial demands. Dowdell appears as on-camera interviewer to a spectrum of African-American men ranging from the everyday likes of doctors and teachers to more vaunted figures from sports and entertainment, such as hip-hop artist Freeway and former NFL player Fred Barnett, and despite their disparate backgrounds and income brackets, from their testimonies a patterns emerge and a common thread is revealed: how family court judgments are often stacked against African-American men.

The film amplifies the too-often unheard voices of these men, and their testimonies are indeed powerful and affecting. If some of the interviews tilt toward bitterness, any unpleasantness is forgiven by the raw, genuine, unfiltered honesty and palpable emotion in the first-hand accounts of their experiences and ongoing trials, both literal and figurative. While unabashed in its empathy for the men, Dowdell does offer balance by including neutrality in the form of objectively informative interviews with experts such as attorneys and psychologists; and conversations, albeit too few, with mothers who receive benefits from the child support system. All of this is enlightening, but where the film strikes dramatic sparks of life is during the few segments featuring impassioned and intelligent discussion and debate between men and women of varying and conflicting viewpoints, particularly a lively barbershop-set confab that manages to corral into the mix an unsuspecting white congressional candidate making neighborhood campaign rounds. With more scenes of such reasoned yet no less charged dialogue, the film would have offered even more food for thought. Even more still would have been served had there been some added insight from whom the system is supposedly designed to help--the children. Some perspective from some now-grown individuals whose upbringings were affected by child support issues within their families would have more fully rounded out the picture. However, as Dowdell's film stands, it's an important and necessary look at a sensitive subject from an angle that too few care to pay attention to, let alone address.

Where's Daddy? releases on DVD on Tuesday, February 6, from Breaking Glass Pictures, with special theatrical limited engagements and screenings taking place throughout the month.

Buy the Where's Daddy? DVD here.