Watchers of the Sky
| Watchers of the Sky | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Edet Belzberg |
| Produced by | Edet Belzberg Jenny Golde Amelia Green-Dove Kerry Propper Karen Sim |
| Cinematography | Mai Iskander |
| Edited by | Jenny Golde Karen Sim |
| Music by | Claudio Ragazzi |
Production companies | Propeller Films The Unofficial Man |
| Distributed by | Music Box Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Watchers of the Sky is a 2014 American documentary film directed and produced by Edet Belzberg.[1][2] The film premiered in competition category of U.S. Documentary Competition program at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2014.[3] It won the two awards at the festival.[4][5]
After its premiere at Sundance Film Festival, Music Box Films acquired distribution rights of the film. The film is scheduled to be released in late 2014.[6][7][8]
Plot
The film depicts the journey of lawyer Raphael Lemkin and how he laid the groundwork that would allow the Nuremberg trials to happen, along with the formation of the International Criminal Court.
Reception
The film received positive response from critics. Dennis Harvey in his review for Variety said that "Edet Belzberg's sweeping survey of global genocide is an impressive and artful cinematic thesis of palpable substance."[9] Duane Byrge of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film positive review and said that "An exhaustive, complex look at genocide with a sobering and historically predictable prognosis. "[10] Steve Greene from Indiewire in his review said that "As a documentary, "Watchers of the Sky” shows how even capturing that progress is a monumental task in itself."[11] Amber Wilkinson in her review for Eye for Film gave the film four star out of four and said that "There is quite a lot of onscreen reading to be done as well as watching but the passages of Lemkin that Belzberg chooses are always well-illustrated either by the animation or archival footage."[12]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Sundance Film Festival | U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary | Edet Belzberg | Nominated |
| Editing Award: U.S. Documentary | Jenny Golden and Karen Sim | Won[4][5] | ||
| U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Achievement for Use of Animation | Edet Belzberg | Won[4][5] |
References
- ^ "Interview with Watchers of the Sky Director Edet Belzberg". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "2014 Edet Belzberg: "Watchers of the Sky"". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Sundance 2014: U.S. Documentary Competition". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Sundance: 'Whiplash' & 'Rich Hill' Win Grand Jury Awards; Dramatic Directing Goes To Cutter Hodierne For 'Fishing Without Nets'". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "'Whiplash' Owns the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Awards Netting Two Top Prizes". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Music Box Films Acquires Sundance Doc 'Watchers of the Sky'". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Berlin: Sundance Winner 'Watchers of the Sky' Gets U.S. Distribution'". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Berlin: Music Box Films Picks Up Doc 'Watchers of the Sky' for U.S." Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Sundance Film Review: 'Watchers of the Sky'". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Watchers of the Sky: Sundance Review". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Sundance Review: 'Watchers of the Sky' Explores the Challenge of Chronicling Genocide". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ "Watchers Of The Sky". Retrieved 12 April 2014.
