Documentary Edge Festival 2012 – Culture Vultures

At the Cutting Edge of Popular Culture: Documentary Edge Festival 2012 – Culture Vultures

One of the most popular selections in the Documentary Edge Festival is 'Culture Vultures’. This is a showcase of documentaries that examine and explore popular culture, be it from the world of music, art, film or television. It also includes “new media” as part of popular culture.

A struggling young actor in Los Angeles, American-born Omi Vaidya, just got married but is still looking for his big break. Happening upon a Bollywood film to be shot in the United States, he auditions and is offered a role. The film is released and nothing exceptional takes place, as four of Omi's college buddies fly to Mumbai with him for the premiere. That is until three days later as 3 Idiots becomes the most successful Bollywood film in history. Now Big in Bollywood, Omi must be quick to prolong his career while he is still ‘hot’.

A concert film as poetic and lingering as his lyrics, Andrew Bird: Fever Year follows acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird during his mammoth 165-stop tour. Viewers learn of Bird's deeply musical mind – a free spirit, mixing swing, New Orleans jazz, gypsy, indie folk and rock in loops. He sees the world as his musical oyster, surprising his audiences with unpredictable performances of songs that change character each time he plays them. This is Xan Aranda's directorial debut and it is a masterpiece for the senses.

Like it or not, wherever you were in the world you couldn't help but notice the popularity of Everybody Loves Raymond. It was a stellar success for Ray Romano and creator Phillip Rosenthal – so much so that other countries began their own adaptation of the show. Exporting Raymond, directed by Rosenthal, marks his quest to translate the series into a Russian sitcom; venturing to a distant land to help people that do not seem to want his help. Running into unique characters and situations that conspire to drive him insane, Exporting Raymond is a genuine fish-out-of-water story that could only exist in real life.

This year’s ‘Culture Vultures’ programming will also shine the spotlight on the world of poetry, with films like Deaf Jam, Lemon, We Are Poets, and live slam poetry sessions throughout the festival.

The Documentary Edge Festival runs from the 26th April - 13th May in Auckland and 17th May - 3rd June in Wellington.

For more information on other films in the Culture Vultures selection, bookings and other events, visit www.documentaryedge.org.nz

ENDS

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