Animator. Director. Artist. Scapegoat.
I never learned Hebrew so I don’t know what that headline means – I just cut and pasted the name of the jpeg Gilat sent me. I do know Sita Sings the Blues will screen with Hebrew subtitles at Holon Cinimateq/Animateq on November 12 for Animation Day. I won’t be there (I’ll be in San Francisco) but my ASIFA-Israel friends will be. Tell your Hebrew-knowing friends!
It doesn’t come off as humble, but my alter-ego Publicity Bitch has some exciting awards news about Sita Sings the Blues.
First, from the the 37th Festival du Nouveau Cinéma in Montreal:
the prestigious Z Télé Grand Prize – prestigious because it is voted upon by those who actually buy tickets to films in the festival – went to Sita Sings the Blues, Nina Paley’s riotous animated musical appropriation of the Indian lit classic, Ramayana, billed as “the Greatest Break-Up Story Ever Told.” (link)
Thank you, Montreal!
Second, today IFP announced its nominees for the 2008 Gotham Awards:
Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near Youâ„¢
Afterschool
Antonio Campos, director; Josh Mond, Sean Durkin, producers
Meadowlark
Taylor Greeson, producer/director
The New Year Parade
Tom Quinn, director; Steve Beal, Tom Quinn, producers
Sita Sings the Blues
Nina Paley, producer/director
Wellness
Jake Mahaffy, director; Jake Mahaffy, Jeff Clark, producers
Thanks, IFP!
And as always, big thanks to you friends, supporters, and viewers for helping my little film make its way in the world.
Music collector Matthew Lanoue has made available as free downloads the Annette Hanshaw songs used in Sita Sings the Blues. These recordings are only available anywhere due to the efforts of record collectors, NOT Big Media corporations. Thanks Matthew!
Update – today, October 18, is Annette Hanshaw’s birthday! How’s that for fortuitous timing? Hat tip to Stewart and Steven for emailing me.
If you want to know more about how the American copyright system became broken, and why instead of fostering creative innovation like it used to, it now suppresses it, read Free Culture by Lawrence Lessig. Heck, read it anyway. You can buy the printed book or download it for free. It illuminates everything Sita Sings the Blues is up against, and why you should care.
In addition to being a professional journalist, desi cultural maven, and all-around entertaining guy, Aseem was the voice of “Shadow Puppet #1” in Sita Sings the Blues. He’ll be representing the film at some upcoming Southern California screenings*:
Monday, Oct. 13, 8:30 pm
RedCat Cinema
631 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles CAThursday, October 16, 7:00pm
with sound designer Greg Sextro!
ArtPower at UC San Diego/The Loft
9500 Gilman Drive #0078, La Jolla, CA 92093
Have a great time, you crazy kids!
*which I’m sitting out due to illness
Salil Tripathi wrote an informative, well-informed article about whether Sita Sings the Blues can avoid being banned in India. It’s in the Far-Eastern Economic Review, and to read the whole thing you have to subscribe ($120 yikes!), but if you’re already a subscriber do check it out.