Candescent Films

Candescent Films is an American film production company that produces and finances documentary and narrative films that explore social issues.

Candescent Films
TypePrivate
IndustryFilm
Founded2010
FounderLilly Hartley
HeadquartersNew York, NY
Websitecandescentfilms.com

History

Candescent Films was founded in 2010 by producer and actress Lilly Hartley.[1][2]

Productions

The Queen of Versailles was Candescent's first supported film.[3] Directed by Lauren Greenfield, it premiered opening day of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.[4]

Sons of the Clouds, a 2012 documentary exploring human rights issues in Western Sahara, was Candescent's second release. Starring Javier Bardem, the film was directed by Alvaro Longoria and produced by Longoria, Hartley and Bardem.[1][5][6] It won the 2013 Goya Award for Best Documentary Film.[7]

In 2013, Candescent produced Likeness, an eight-minute film about eating disorders and body image. It stars Elle Fanning and was directed by Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto.[8][9] 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.[8][10] After premiering at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, Likeness was released online via T: The New York Times Style Magazine.[8] It was nominated for a 2014 Webby Award under the Drama: Long Form or Series category.[11]

Other projects include Who is Dayani Cristal? (produced and narrated by Gael García Bernal), Fed Up (produced and narrated by Katie Couric), and 1971 and Art and Craft, which both premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.[2][3] 1971 won the ABCNews VideoSource Award at the 2015 International Documentary Association Awards,[12] and the Spotlight Award at the 2015 Cinema Eye Honors.[13] Art and Craft was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[14] Cartel Land, 3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets and Racing Extinction all premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Cartel Land won the Sundance Film Festival Directing Award: U.S. Documentary and U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematography,[15] and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[16] 3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets won the Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact,[15] and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[17]

Candescent's film Trophy, directed by Shaul Schwarz, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by CNN Films and The Orchard.[18] Candescent supported Step, which also premiered at Sundance 2017, where it won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Inspirational Filmmaking.[19] Candescent helped finance the development and production of The Departure, directed by Lana Wilson. It premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival,[20][21] and was nominated for the 2018 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature.[22] Wilson's first film, After Tiller, received a 2013 Candescent Award.[23]

Candescent Received an "In Association With" credit for Generation Wealth, directed by Lauren Greenfield,[24] which had its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival,[25] its European premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival,[26] and was nominated for a 2018 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Screenplay.[27] Candescent supported Charm City, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[28] The film, directed by Marilyn Ness, premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, and was distributed by PBS Distribution.[29]

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 (TFI).[30][31]

DFP Candescent Award

In 2012, Candescent Films created the Candescent Award in partnership with the Sundance Institute 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 in Park City, Utah.[3][5]

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, about public defenders, and After Tiller, about the 2009 assassination of Dr. George Tiller. Both films were nominated for 2013 Spirit Awards. In January 2014, Candescent Films announced the three winners of its 2014 Candescent Award in partnership with the Sundance Institute: Marmato, about a Colombian mining town; Private Violence, about a domestic violence victim's fight to put her husband in prison; and E-Team, about a team of human rights investigators.[32] 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.[15][33] The winner of the 2017 Candescent Award was City of Ghosts, directed by Matthew Heineman.[34] Amazon bought the worldwide rights in January 2017.[35]

TFI Candescent Award

In April 2014, in partnership with the Tribeca Film Institute, Candescent Films created a grant, also called the Candescent Award, given to films that have been supported by the Tribeca Film Institute.[2] The winners of the inaugural Candescent Award through the Tribeca Film Festival were Nas: Time Is Illmatic, about the creation of rapper Nas' 1994 debut album Illmatic,[3][36] and The Yes Men Are Revolting.[37] The 2015 Candescent Award at the Tribeca Film Festival went to The Wolfpack, about six teenage brothers who have spent their lives locked in a Manhattan housing project.[38]

SummerDocs Audience Award

Candescent sponsors the audience award at the Hamptons International Film Festival SummerDocs Series. The 2014 winner was Keep on Keepin' On, about the mentorship between jazz musician Clark Terry and blind piano prodigy Justin Kaulflin.[39][40] The 2015 SummerDocs Audience Award winner was Best of Enemies, about the 1968 televised debates between Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr.[41] Betting on Zero was the winner of the 2016 SummerDocs Audience Award.[42] Bathtubs Over Broadway, following comedy writer Steve Young on his quest to learn more about the world of industrial musicals, won the 2018 SummerDocs Audience Award.[43]

List of films
Year Title Notes
2012Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American HealthcareWon Candescent Award
Sons of the CloudsWon 2013 Goya Award for Best Documentary Film
The Queen of VersaillesNominated for DGA Award, IDA Award and Critics' Choice Award, Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary, 2012 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award (Lauren Greenfield) and Nominated: Grand Jury Prize
2013After TillerWon Candescent Award; won a 2015 News & Documentary Emmy Award for Best Documentary; nominated for Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary; nominated for Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature; nominated for four Cinema Eye Honors awards; named a 2013 top five documentary by the National Board of Review
Gideon's ArmyWon Candescent Award; nominated for Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature
LikenessShort film; nominated for Webby Award; nominated for Tribeca Film Festival Jury Award (Best Short Narrative)
Remote Area MedicalTraverse City Film Festival Winner: Founders Prize for Best Documentary
Who Is Dayani Cristal?2013 Sundance Film Festival - Winner: Cinematography Award, Nominee: Grand Jury Prize
20141971Won 2015 International Documentary Association ABCNews VideoSource Award and 2015 Cinema Eye Honors Spotlight Award. Named a 2016 Peabody Award finalist.
Art and CraftShortlisted for Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
E-TeamWon Candescent Award
Fed UpNominated for Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: Documentary; nominated for News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Graphic Design and Art Direction
MarmatoWon Candescent Award
Private ViolenceWon Candescent Award; nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Programming – Long Form
Nas: Time Is IllmaticWon Candescent Award
The Yes Men Are RevoltingWon Candescent Award
2015Cartel LandWon Sundance Film Festival Directing Award: U.S. Documentary and U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematography; nominated for Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
How to Change the WorldWon Candescent Award; won Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing
Racing ExtinctionNominated for Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary
(T)errorWon Candescent Award; won Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Break Out First Feature
3½ Minutes, Ten BulletsWon Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact; shortlisted for Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
The WolfpackWon Candescent Award; won Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary
2016Solitary
Vegas Baby
2017City of GhostsWon Candescent Award
The DepartureNominated for Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature; nominated for Tribeca Film Festival Award for Best Documentary Feature
StepWon Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Inspirational Filmmaking
Trophy2017 Sundance Film Festival Nominee: Grand Jury Prize; Critics Choice Documentary Award nominee for Best Sports Documentary
2018Charm CityShortlisted for 2018 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
Generation WealthNominated for 2018 WGA Award for Best Documentary Screenplay
2019Fantasy Island

References
  1. Mike Fleming, Jr., “Candescent Films Launches With Jeff Nichols, Javier Bardem, R.J. Cutler Pics,” Deadline Hollywood, September 21, 2011.
  2. Jeremy Kay, “Illmatic inaugural Candescent winner,” Screen International, April 2, 2014.
  3. Pamela McClintock, “Tribeca: Nas Documentary ‘Time is Illmatic’ to Receive Inaugural Candescent Award,” The Hollywood Reporter, April 2, 2014.
  4. Kenneth Turan, “Sundance: ‘Queen of Versailles’ keenly eyes the rich and struggling,” Los Angeles Times, January 19, 2012.
  5. Kevin Jagernauth, “Candescent Films Gives A Two-Year Gift To The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program,” Indiewire, November 16, 2011.
  6. Christopher Rosen, “Javier Bardem On ‘Sons Of The Clouds’: Documentary Filmmaking As Activism,” Huffington Post, November 5, 2012.
  7. John Hopewell, “Spain’s Longoria Directs ‘Korean Dream’,” Variety, April 17, 2014.
  8. Nick Haramis, “A Shocking Short Film About Body Image, Starring Elle Fanning,” T: The New York Times Style Magazine, December 12, 2013.
  9. Jessica Grose, “New Elle Fanning Film About Body Image Is Hard to Watch – But You Should Do It Anyway,” Elle, December 16, 2013.
  10. Melanie Haiken, “Shocking Elle Fanning Video On Eating Disorders Goes Viral,” Forbes, December 16, 2013.
  11. Sahil Patel, “And the Nominees for the 18th Annual Webby Awards Are…” Video Ink, April 8, 2014.
  12. "30th Annual IDA Awards," documentary.org. Accessed February 16, 2015.
  13. "2015 Cinema Eye Honors Announces Winners," Cinema Eye Honors, January 8, 2015.
  14. "15 Documentary Features Advance in 2014 Oscar Race," Oscars.org, December 1, 2014.
  15. Dave McNary, "Sundance: ‘How to Change the World,’ ‘(T)error’ Win Candescent Awards," Variety, January 24, 2015.
  16. "Documentary (Feature) Nominee," Oscar.go.com. Accessed February 10, 2017.
  17. Erik Pedersen, "Oscars: 15 Documentary Features Make Shortlist," Deadline.com, December 1, 2015.
  18. Mia Galuppo, "Sundance: Orchard, CNN Films Partner for Hunting Doc 'Trophy'," The Hollywood Reporter, January 20, 2017.
  19. Joey Nolfi, "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore wins top Sundance prize," Entertainment Weekly, January 29, 2017.
  20. Macaulay, Scott (13 Oct 2017). "Director Lana Wilson Talks Gaining Trust, Valuing Life and Her Wise, Empathetic Suicide Prevention Doc, The Departure". Filmmaker Magazine.
  21. Scheck, Frank (12 Oct 2017). "'The Departure': Film Review". Hollywood Reporter.
  22. "Independent Spirit Awards winners 2018: See the full list". Entertainment Weekly. 3 Mar 2018.
  23. Tatiana Siegel, “Director of Abortion Doc ‘After Tiller’ to Tackle Film About Suicide Epidemic,” The Hollywood Reporter, June 9, 2014.
  24. Jacobs, Sarah (2 May 2018). "A photographer spent 25 years documenting rich people — meet some of her most memorable subjects". Business Insider.
  25. Fienberg, Daniel (18 Jan 2018). "'Generation Wealth': Film Review". Hollywood Reporter.
  26. Baughan, Nikki (15 Feb 2018). "'Generation Wealth': Berlin Review". Screen Daily.
  27. "Writers Guild Film Nominations: 'Roma', 'Black Panther', 'Eighth Grade' & More". Deadline Hollywood. 7 Jan 2019.
  28. Kaltenbach, Chris (28 Dec 2018). "'Charm City' documentary makes Oscars short list". Baltimore Sun.
  29. Hipes, Patrick (25 Jun 2018). "'Charm City' Documentary Getting Theatrical & TV Release Via PBS". Deadline Hollywood.
  30. "AWARD — Candescent Films". Candescent Films. 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  31. McClintock, Pamela (2 April 2014). "Tribeca: Nas Documentary 'Time is Illmatic' to Receive Inaugural Candescent Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  32. Pamela McClintock, “Sundance: Candescent Films Announces 2014 Documentary Awards,” The Hollywood Reporter, January 18, 2014.
  33. "Award Winners," Archived 2017-10-27 at the Wayback Machine Sundance Film Festival '15. Accessed February 16, 2015.
  34. Dave McNary, "Sundance: Documentary ‘City of Ghosts’ Wins Candescent Award," Variety, January 19, 2017.
  35. Tatiana Siegel, "Sundance: Amazon Closes Deal for ISIS Doc 'City of Ghosts' for More Than $2 Million," The Hollywood Reporter, January 27, 2017.
  36. Steve Dollar, “Tribeca Film Festival: A Cinematic Hat Tip to Everything New York,” The Wall Street Journal, April 21, 2014.
  37. Jake Folsom, "Exclusive: TFI Awards Candescent Film Award to 'The Yes Men Are Revolting'," Indiewire, October 30, 2014.
  38. Dave McNary, "Tribeca: ‘Wolfpack’ Wins Candescent Award," Variety, April 17, 2015.
  39. "SummerDocs," Hamptons International Film Festival. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  40. Tatiana Siegel, "Roger Ebert Doc 'Life Itself' to Open Hamptons SummerDocs Series," The Hollywood Reporter, May 21, 2014.
  41. Kristin McCracken, "'Best of Enemies' Wins SummerDocs Audience Award," hamptonsfilmfest.org, September 16, 2015.
  42. Brian Cudzilo, "HIFF’s 126 Films of 2016," Dan's Papers, October 7, 2016.
  43. "'BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY' WINS SUMMERDOCS AUDIENCE AWARD". hamptonsfilmfest.org. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
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