Newburyport’s own festival will present a new look which includes a logo and website built by MacPhee Design Group and they will also be branching out with year-round programming initiatives.
The festival includes a wide range of documentary film subjects and awards are given at the end of the weekend. Last year’s prizes included: BEST SHORT FILM (Sandmen), BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER (Democracy through the Looking Glass), AUDIENCE AWARD (Deej), BEST NEW ENGLAND FILM (The Last Pig), BEST FEATURE FILM (Furusato), and SPECIAL JURY COMMENDATIONS.
This year’s entries will have something for everyone. See trailers now for:
Bathtubs over Broadway (Fri; 9/14; 730pm, FHT)
Winner of Tribeca, Nantucket and many other film festivals
When he started as a comedy writer for the LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, Steve Young had few interests outside of his day job. But while gathering material for a segment on the show, Steve stumbled onto a few vintage record albums that would change his life forever.
Bizarre cast recordings – marked “internal use only” – revealed full-throated Broadway-style musical shows about some of the most recognizable corporations in America: General Electric, McDonald’s, Ford, DuPont, Xerox. Steve didn’t know much about musical theater, but these recordings delighted him in a way that nothing ever had.
BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY follows Steve Young on his quest to find all he can about this hidden world. While tracking down rare albums, unseen footage, composers and performers, Steve forms unlikely friendships and discovers that this discarded musical genre starring tractors and bathtubs was bigger than Broadway. With David Letterman, Chita Rivera, Martin Short, Florence Henderson, Susan Stroman, Jello Biafra and more.
Farmsteads (Sat; 9/15; 10am; ScreenRoom)
Having abandoned a career as a food processing engineer at General Mills, Nick returns home, the prodigal son, and he, his wife Celeste and their young family resurrect his late grandfather’s dairy farm. Heroic, benign and accessible, Nick and Celeste’s meditations on life, legacy, and resistance offer an unexpected voice from a forsaken people – those who grow the food that sustains us.
Life in the Dog House (Sat; 9/15; 10am, FHT)
LIFE IN THE DOG HOUSE tells the inspiring life stories of Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta and the remarkable work they do at Danny & Ron’s Rescue. Ten years and 10,000 dogs later, their unique approach to life and dog rescue will capture hearts and inspire millions to make the right choices when it comes to man’s best friend.
Capturing the Flag (Sat; 9/15; 1130am, ScreenRoom)
A tight-knit group of friends travel to Cumberland County, North Carolina – 2016 “posterchild” for voter suppression – intent on proving that the big idea of American democracy can be defended by small acts of individual citizens. An unexpected story about American Democracy.
Last of the Big Tuskers (Sat; 9/15; 4:45pm, FHT)
A big tusker elephant is an elephant with at least one tusk weighing 100 pounds or more. Only 100 years ago, thousands roamed the wilds of Africa. Sadly today only 22 remain. Last of the Big Tuskers focuses on the last of these iconic animals and what is being done to keep them safe.
The High Sierra Trail (Sun; 9/16; 11:45am, FHT)
This exciting documentary bounces back and forth between the modern experience of hiking the High Sierra Trail and the early 1900’s when the trail was created.
Crime and Punishment (Sun; 9/16; 5pm, FHT)
A highly intimate and cinematic experience with unprecedented access, Crime + Punishment examines the United States’ most powerful police department through the brave efforts of a group of active duty officers and one unforgettable private investigator who risk their careers and safety to bring light to harmful policing practices which have plagued the precincts and streets of New York City for decades.
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See website for costs to attend and trailers.
Visit – nbptdocfest.org