IFP Alum WAR DON DON wins the Cinereach Award!

Since it's award-winning debut at South by Southwest, Rebecca Richman-Cohen's War Don Don has truly been a film to be contended with. Today, it was announced that, in connection with the 2010 Human Rights Watch Film Festival, Cinereach presented its annual Cinereach Award to Rebecca Richman Cohen for her work as Director/Producer of War Don Don. The award, which includes a $5,000 prize, recognizes excellence in artful, vital storytelling.

In the film, Issa Sesay is tried in the "Special Court” of Sierra Leone, accused of committing war crimes during the country’s recent civil war. With unprecedented access to prosecutors, defense attorneys, victims, and, from behind bars, Sesay himself — War Don Don puts international justice on trial, finding that in some cases the past is not just painful, it is also opaque.

“War Don Don unravels the complexities of the international justice system, while weaving a gripping and dynamic story,” said Cinereach Creative Director Michael Raisler. “We’re thrilled that the film is part of this year’s program and can’t imagine a more exciting context for audiences to experience it.”

War Don Don went through the IFP Filmmaker Labs and Independent Film Week's Spotlight on Documentaries in 2008. (for those of you slackers out there, get your doc applications in today! it's the final deadline).

John Biaggi, Director of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, adds “It’s rewarding to see these two strong forces in the film world linking up - War Don Don, which is one of the year’s finest documentaries and delivers on many levels, and Cinereach, a vibrant, highly engaged organization.”

The Human Rights Watch Film Festival New York takes place from June 10-24. War Don Don will screen, with Rebecca Richman Cohen in attendance, at the Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center on:
June 12, 2010, 6:45PM *including panel discussion with co-council to Issa Sesay and others 

June 13, 2010, 2:00PM
June 16, 2010, 4:00PM

For tickets click here.

Rebecca Richman Cohen, IFP Alum/Director of WAR DON DON, blogs from Tamale-land

Left to right Daniel Chalfen, Francisco Bello, Rebecca Richman Cohen, and David Menschel

Hi blog readers,

I’m the director of War Don Don – a feature length documentary premièring in competition at SXSW. I’m totally bleary-eyed, but also still giddy from excitement of bringing the film into the world. It’s been a whirlwind few days between screenings and barbeque and meetings and breakfast tacos and parties and superb guacamole. I have not gone hungry in this city, and while I’m keen to write some restaurant reviews, I’ll keep my blogging to the cinema.

I’ve found Austin audiences to be as warm and lovely as Austin weather - and both our screenings were well-received, followed by engaged and thoughtful questions at Q&A. The festival has been in excellent order and things have moved seamlessly. It’s been busy, but I’ve had time to see some other films – and there are some very very good ones out there. NY Export: Opus Jazz and Marwencol were two that I found captivating. The Canal Street Madam had an excellent audience response. When things quiet down after tomorrow, I’ll see more.

SXSW really feels like a place where things are moving and shaking in exciting ways. The interactive part of the festival seems to be generating a lot of exciting new ideas, and dare I say: toys. I’m game to explore some of that tomorrow! But for now, I’m off to do whatever it is that we filmmakers do. And I’m hoping that it includes tamales like last night...