Candescent Films is an American film production company that produces and finances
documentary and
narrative
A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional (memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travel literature, travelogue, etc.) or fictional (fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller (ge ...
films that explore social issues.
History
Candescent Films was founded in 2010 by producer and actress
Lilly Hartley.
[Mike Fleming, Jr.]
“Candescent Films Launches With Jeff Nichols, Javier Bardem, R.J. Cutler Pics,”
''Deadline Hollywood
''Deadline Hollywood'', commonly known as ''Deadline'' and also referred to as ''Deadline.com'', is an online news site founded as the news blog ''Deadline Hollywood Daily'' by Nikki Finke in 2006. The site is updated several times a day, with ...
'', September 21, 2011.[Jeremy Kay]
“Illmatic inaugural Candescent winner,”
''Screen International
''Screen International'' is a British film magazine covering the international film business. It is published by Media Business Insight, a British B2B media company.
The magazine is primarily aimed at those involved in the global film business. ...
'', April 2, 2014.
Productions
''
The Queen of Versailles
''The Queen of Versailles'' is a 2012 American documentary film by Lauren Greenfield. The film depicts Jackie Siegel and David Siegel, owners of Westgate Resorts, and their family as they build their private residence – Versailles, one of ...
'' was Candescent's first supported film.
[Pamela McClintock]
“Tribeca: Nas Documentary ‘Time is Illmatic’ to Receive Inaugural Candescent Award,”
''The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'', April 2, 2014. Directed by
Lauren Greenfield
Lauren Greenfield (born 1966) is an American artist, documentary photographer, and documentary filmmaker. She has published four photographic monographs, directed four documentary features, produced four traveling exhibitions, and published in ma ...
, it premiered opening day of the
2012 Sundance Film Festival
The 2012 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 19 until January 29, 2012 in Park City, Utah.
64 short films were selected for the festival from 7,675 submissions, including 27 international shorts from 3,592 submissions.
Non-competition ...
and was nominated for a
DGA Award
The Directors Guild of America Awards are issued annually by the Directors Guild of America. The first DGA Award was an "Honorary Life Member" award issued in 1938 to D. W. Griffith. The statues are made by New York firm, Society Awards.
Categ ...
,
IDA Award
International Documentary Association (IDA), founded in 1982, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that promotes nonfiction filmmakers, and is dedicated to increasing public awareness for the documentary genre. Their major program areas are: Advocacy, Filmm ...
and
Critics' Choice Award.
''Sons of the Clouds'', a 2012 documentary exploring human rights issues in
Western Sahara
Western Sahara ( '; ; ) is a disputed territory on the northwest coast and in the Maghreb region of North and West Africa. About 20% of the territory is controlled by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), while the r ...
, was Candescent's second release. Starring
Javier Bardem
Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem (; born 1 March 1969) is a Spanish actor. Known for his roles in Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters and foreign films, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the psychopath, ...
, the film was directed by
Alvaro Longoria and produced by Longoria, Hartley and Bardem.
[Kevin Jagernauth]
“Candescent Films Gives A Two-Year Gift To The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program,”
''Indiewire'', November 16, 2011. It won the
2013 Goya Award for Best Documentary Film. The film screened at the
European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...
in Brussels, and at the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
in New York for the
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (formerly the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, or RFK Center) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit human rights advocacy organization. It was named after United States Senator Robert F. Kenned ...
.
In 2013, Candescent produced ''Likeness'', an eight-minute film about eating disorders and body image. It stars
Elle Fanning
Mary Elle Fanning (born April 9, 1998) is an American actress. She made her film debut as the younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning's character in the drama film ''I Am Sam'' (2001). As a child actress, she appeared in several films, inc ...
and was directed by
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
-nominated cinematographer
Rodrigo Prieto
Rodrigo Prieto, American Society of Cinematographers, ASC, AMC (born November 23, 1965), is a Mexican cinematographer. He has been closely associated as cinematographer for Martin Scorsese and Alejandro González Iñárritu, among other directo ...
.
[Nick Haramis]
“A Shocking Short Film About Body Image, Starring Elle Fanning,”
'' T: The New York Times Style Magazine'', December 12, 2013. After being approached by Candescent to write and direct a short film with a social message that was personal to him, Prieto chose the subject of body image, since his daughter had previously struggled with an eating disorder.
After premiering at the 2013
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...
, ''Likeness'' was released online via ''
T: The New York Times Style Magazine''.
It was nominated for a 2014
Webby Award
The Webby Awards are awards for excellence on the Internet presented annually by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a judging body composed of over two thousand industry experts and technology innovators. Categories include ...
under the Drama: Long Form or Series category.
Other projects include ''Who is Dayani Cristal?'' (produced and narrated by
Gael García Bernal
Gael García Bernal (; born 30 November 1978) is a Mexican actor and producer. He is best known for his performances in the films '' Bad Education'', '' The Motorcycle Diaries'', ''Amores perros'', ''Y tu mamá también'', ''Babel'', '' Coco'', ...
), ''
Fed Up'' (produced and narrated by
Katie Couric
Katherine Anne Couric ( ; born January 7, 1957) is an American journalist and presenter. She is founder of Katie Couric Media, a multimedia news and production company. She also publishes a daily newsletter, ''Wake Up Call''. From 2013 to 2017, ...
), and ''
1971 *
The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses ( February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 10, and August 6).
The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history.
Events
Ja ...
'' and ''
Art and Craft
Mark Augustus Landis (born 1955) is an American painter who lives in Laurel, Mississippi. He is best known for "donating" large numbers of forged paintings and drawings to American art museums.
Life and career
Mark Landis was born in Norfolk, ...
'', which both premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.
''1971'' won the ABCNews VideoSource Award at the 2015
International Documentary Association
International Documentary Association (IDA), founded in 1982, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that promotes nonfiction filmmakers, and is dedicated to increasing public awareness for the documentary genre. Their major program areas are: Advocacy, Filmm ...
Awards, and the Spotlight Award at the 2015
Cinema Eye Honors
The Cinema Eye Honors are awards recognizing excellence in nonfiction or documentary filmmaking and include awards for the disciplines of directing, producing, cinematography and editing. The awards are presented each January in New York and have b ...
. ''Art and Craft'' was shortlisted for the
Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...
. ''
Cartel Land
''Cartel Land'' is a 2015 American documentary film directed by Matthew Heineman about the Mexican Drug War, especially vigilante groups fighting Mexican drug cartels. The film focuses on Tim "Nailer" Foley, the leader of Arizona Border Recon ...
'', ''
3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets'' and ''
Racing Extinction
''Racing Extinction'' is a 2015 documentary about the ongoing anthropogenic mass extinction of species and the efforts from scientists, activists and journalists to document it by Oscar-winning director Louie Psihoyos, who directed the document ...
'' all premiered at the
2015 Sundance Film Festival
The 2015 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 22 to February 1, 2015. ''What Happened, Miss Simone?'', a biographical documentary film about American singer Nina Simone, opened the festival. Comedy-drama film ''Grandma'', directed by Pa ...
. ''Cartel Land'' won the Sundance Film Festival Directing Award: U.S. Documentary and U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematography,
and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. ''3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets'' won the
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...
U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact,
and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The Candescent-supported films ''
Solitary
Solitary is the state of being alone or in solitude. The term may refer to:
* shortened form of solitary confinement
* Solitary animal, an animal that does not live with others in its species
* Solitary but social, a type of social organization in ...
'' and ''Vegas Baby'' both premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.
Candescent's film ''
Trophy
A trophy is a tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as a recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics. In many sports medals (or, in ...
'', directed by Shaul Schwarz, which premiered at the
2017 Sundance Film Festival
The 2017 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 19 to January 29, 2017. The first lineup of competition films was announced November 30, 2016.
Awards
The following awards were presented:
* Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic – ''I Don't Feel at ...
and was acquired by
CNN Films
CNN Films is a motion picture division of CNN under Warner Bros. Pictures. originally launched in 2012. Its first film, ''Girl Rising'' premiered in spring 2013 in the United States.
History
On October 8, 2012, CNN announced the creation of CNN F ...
and
The Orchard
The Orchard may refer to:
* The Orchard (company), American music and entertainment company
* The Orchard (band), Canadian country music duo
* ''The Orchard'' (Lizz Wright album), 2008
* ''The Orchard'' (Ra Ra Riot album), 2010
* The Orchard (t ...
. Candescent supported ''Step'', which also premiered at Sundance 2017, where it won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Inspirational Filmmaking. Candescent helped finance the development and production of ''
The Departure
The Departure was an English rock band from Northampton, formed in October 2003. Their debut album, ''Dirty Words'', was released 13 June 2005 by Parlophone. A second album, ''Inventions'', was expected to be released in early 2008, but was not ...
'', directed by
Lana Wilson
Lana Wilson is an American filmmaker. She directed the feature documentaries ''After Tiller'', ''The Departure,'' and ''Miss Americana''. The first two films were nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary.
Life and career
Or ...
. It premiered at the 2017
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...
, and was nominated for the 2018
Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards. It is given to the director(s) of the film and since 2014 it is also given to the producers. It was first presented in 2000, with Marc Singer ...
. Wilson's first film, ''
After Tiller
''After Tiller'' is a 2013 documentary film directed by Martha Shane and Lana Wilson that follows the only four remaining doctors in the United States who openly perform abortions in the third trimester of pregnancy. In 2015, ''After Tiller'' won ...
'', received a 2013 Candescent Award.
Candescent Received an "In Association With" credit for ''
Generation Wealth'', directed by
Lauren Greenfield
Lauren Greenfield (born 1966) is an American artist, documentary photographer, and documentary filmmaker. She has published four photographic monographs, directed four documentary features, produced four traveling exhibitions, and published in ma ...
, which had its world premiere at the
2018 Sundance Film Festival
The 2018 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 18 to January 28, 2018. The first lineup of competition films was announced on November 29, 2017.
Awards
The following awards were presented:
* U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award: '' Th ...
, its European premiere at the
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...
, and was nominated for a 2018
. Candescent supported ''Charm City'', which was shortlisted for the 2018
Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...
. The film, directed by Marilyn Ness, premiered at the 2018
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...
, and was distributed by
PBS Distribution
PBS Distribution (PBSd), formerly known as PBS Ventures, PBS Home Video, and Public Media Distribution, is the home video distribution unit of American television network PBS. The company releases and sells home videos of PBS series and movies and ...
.
Candescent Award
The "Candescent Award" is the name for two different awards, both issued by Candescent Films, one in cooperation with the
Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program (DFP) and one in cooperation with the
Tribeca Film Institute
The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) is a year-round non-profit arts organization founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, based in New York.
The Tribeca Film Institute was created in 2003 in the wake of September 11, 2001. TFI ta ...
(TFI).
DFP Candescent Award
In 2012, Candescent Films created the Candescent Award in partnership with the
Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford committed to the growth of independent artists. The institute is driven by its programs that discover and support independent filmmakers, theatre artists and composers f ...
Documentary Film Program to support the creation and completion of socially conscious documentary films. It began as a two-year gift to the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, and has continued as an annual award given at the
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...
in Park City, Utah.
The winner of the inaugural Candescent Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival was ''
Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare''. The 2013 winners were ''
Gideon's Army
''Gideon's Army'' is a 2013 American documentary film about three public defenders in the Southern United States. The movie is directed by Dawn Porter. Its title comes from ''Gideon v. Wainwright'', which required that indigent criminal defendants ...
'', about public defenders, and ''
After Tiller
''After Tiller'' is a 2013 documentary film directed by Martha Shane and Lana Wilson that follows the only four remaining doctors in the United States who openly perform abortions in the third trimester of pregnancy. In 2015, ''After Tiller'' won ...
'', about the 2009 assassination of
Dr. George Tiller. Both films were nominated for 2013
Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass ...
. In January 2014, Candescent Films announced the three winners of its 2014 Candescent Award in partnership with the Sundance Institute: ''
Marmato
''Marmato'' is a 2014 American documentary film written, directed and produced by Mark Grieco. It is the debut feature film of Grieco. The film premiered in competition category of U.S. Documentary Competition program at the 2014 Sundance Film Fest ...
'', about a Colombian mining town; ''
Private Violence
''Private Violence'' is a 2014 American documentary film directed and produced by Cynthia Hill. The film focuses on the issue of domestic violence, as told through two survivors. Ultimately, the film centers on dispelling the logic of the commonly ...
'', about a domestic violence victim's fight to put her husband in prison; and ''
E-Team
''E-Team'' is a 2014 American documentary film co-directed and produced by Katy Chevigny and Ross Kauffman. The film premiered in the competition category of U.S. Documentary Competition program at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2 ...
'', about a team of human rights investigators. The two winners of the 2015 Candescent Award were ''
How to Change the World'', which won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and ''
(T)error'', which won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Break Out First Feature at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
[Dave McNary]
"Sundance: ‘How to Change the World,’ ‘(T)error’ Win Candescent Awards,"
''Variety'', January 24, 2015. The winner of the 2017 Candescent Award was ''
City of Ghosts City of Ghosts may refer to:
* City of Ghosts (2002 film), an American crime thriller film
* City of Ghosts (2017 film), an Arabic-language American documentary film
* City of Ghosts (TV series)
''City of Ghosts'' is a hybrid French-American an ...
'', directed by
Matthew Heineman
Matthew Heineman is an American filmmaker. The Sundance Film Festival called Heineman "one of the most talented and exciting documentary filmmakers working today", while Anne Thompson of ''Indiewire'' wrote that Heineman is a "respected and gif ...
, which centers on a group of citizen journalists facing the realities of life undercover, on the run, and in exile, risking their lives to stand up against
ISIS
Isis (; ''Ēse''; ; Meroitic: ''Wos'' 'a''or ''Wusa''; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤎, romanized: ʾs) was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingd ...
.
Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology c ...
bought the worldwide rights in January 2017.
TFI Candescent Award
In April 2014, in partnership with the
Tribeca Film Institute
The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) is a year-round non-profit arts organization founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, based in New York.
The Tribeca Film Institute was created in 2003 in the wake of September 11, 2001. TFI ta ...
, Candescent Films created a grant, also called the Candescent Award, given to films that have been supported by the Tribeca Film Institute.
The winners of the inaugural Candescent Award through the
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...
were ''
Nas: Time Is Illmatic'', about the creation of rapper
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ( ...
' 1994 debut album ''
Illmatic
''Illmatic'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Nas. It was released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. After signing with the label with the help of MC Serch, Nas recorded the album in 1992 and 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Re ...
'',
and ''
The Yes Men Are Revolting
''The Yes Men Are Revolting'' is a 2014 documentary film directed by Laura Nix and The Yes Men, a culture jamming duo who use the aliases Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno. Adam McKay executive produced. The film follows their exploits as they pra ...
''. The 2015 Candescent Award at the Tribeca Film Festival went to ''
The Wolfpack
''The Wolfpack'' is a 2015 American documentary film, directed by Crystal Moselle. It is about the Angulo family, who homeschooled and raised their seven children (six boys and one girl) in the confinement of their apartment in the Lower East Sid ...
'', about six teenage brothers who have spent their lives locked in a Manhattan housing project.
SummerDocs Audience Award
Candescent sponsors the audience award at the
Hamptons International Film Festival
The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is an international film festival founded in 1992, by Joyce Robinson. The festival has since taken place every year in East Hampton, New York. It is usually an annual five-day event in mid-October a ...
SummerDocs Series. The 2014 winner was ''Keep on Keepin' On'', about the mentorship between jazz musician
Clark Terry
Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator.
He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duke ...
and blind piano prodigy Justin Kaulflin. The 2015 SummerDocs Audience Award winner was ''
Best of Enemies'', about the 1968 televised debates between
Gore Vidal
Eugene Luther Gore Vidal (; born Eugene Louis Vidal, October 3, 1925 – July 31, 2012) was an American writer and public intellectual known for his epigrammatic wit, erudition, and patrician manner. Vidal was bisexual, and in his novels and ...
and
William F. Buckley Jr.
William Frank Buckley Jr. (born William Francis Buckley; November 24, 1925 – February 27, 2008) was an American public intellectual, conservative author and political commentator. In 1955, he founded ''National Review'', the magazine that stim ...
''
Betting on Zero
''Betting on Zero'' is a 2016 American documentary directed by Ted Braun. It investigates the allegation that Herbalife is a pyramid scheme, and follows Bill Ackman's short investment in Herbalife, which is ostensibly a billion-dollar bet that th ...
'' was the winner of the 2016 SummerDocs Audience Award. ''
Bathtubs Over Broadway
''Bathtubs Over Broadway'' is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Dava Whisenant. Comedy writer Steve Young’s assignment to scour bargain-bin vinyl for a late-night segment becomes an unexpected, decades-spanning obsession when he stu ...
'', following comedy writer
Steve Young
Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccane ...
on his quest to learn more about the world of industrial musicals, won the 2018 SummerDocs Audience Award.
List of films
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Film production companies of the United States
Documentary film production companies
Entertainment companies established in 2010