Marmato

Marmato is a 2014 American documentary film written, directed and produced by Mark Grieco.[1] It is the debut feature film of Grieco. The film premiered in competition category of U.S. Documentary Competition program at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 2014,[2] where it won the Candescent Award.[3]

Marmato
Promotional poster
Directed byMark Grieco
Written byMark Grieco
Stuart Reid
Produced byMark Grieco
Stuart Reid
Harry Swartz-Turfle
Izabel Hoyos
CinematographyMark Grieco
Edited byRicardo Acosta
Mark Grieco
Music byTodd Boekelheide
Production
company
Calle Films
Release date
  • January 17, 2014 (2014-01-17) (Sundance)
Running time
87 minutes
CountriesColombia
United States
LanguagesSpanish
English

Synopsis

The film narrates 6-years long struggle of townspeople of Marmato, Caldas with Canadian mining company that wants the $20 billion in gold beneath their homes.

Production

Director, Mark Grieco lived and filmed in the town of Marmato over the course of 5 1/2 years from 2008-2013. The entirety of the film takes place in the town except for two scenes in the nearby city of Medellín. Grieco worked alone filming with one camera, the Canon XH-A1. Production was forced to end when it became too dangerous to continue to film in the town.[4]

Reception

The film received positive response from critics. Kenneth Turan in his preview of Sundance 2014 for the Los Angeles Times said that it was among the festival's most memorable films and is "made with exceptional artistry."[5]

Guy Lodge in his review for Variety said that "Mark Grieco's detailed, patient chronicle of a Colombian gold rush is equal parts passion and compassion project."[6]

Mark Adams of Screen International said it is "a striking and vivid story" and "a fascinating glimpse into a tough and resilient community" [7]

Daniel Feinberg in his Sundance review for HitFix called it "one of the best films I've seen in this year's U.S. Documentary Competition" with "compelling and fully realized characters". He goes on to say, "The whole thing is like a Werner Herzog film, man's base desires, juxtaposed with sublime and unconquerable nature" [8]

Jordan M. Smith from Ioncinema gave the film a positive review by saying that "Grieco’s film acts as an advocate for cultural preservation, but in doing he’s unfortunately woven a story as muddled as the conflict it documents."[9]

However, Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter said, "Sympathetic account of beleaguered small-town residents doesn’t muster enough material to prove entirely persuasive."[10]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2014 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary Mark Grieco Nominated
Candescent Award Mark Grieco Won[3]
Cartagena Film Festival Best Documentary Film Mark Grieco Won[11]
Best Colombian Film Mark Grieco Won[11]
Audience Award for Best Documentary Mark Grieco Won[11]
Seattle International Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: Best Documentary Mark Grieco Won[12]
Ashland Independent Film Festival Best Editing Feature Documentary Mark Grieco and Ricardo Acosta Won[13]
Habana International Film Festival Special Jury Prize Mark Grieco Won[14]
Environmental Film Festival at Yale Best Environmental Storytelling Mark Grieco Won[15]
Astra Film Festival Eco Cinematography Award Mark Grieco Won[16]
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival Audience Choice Best Documentary Feature Mark Grieco Won[17]
Banff Mountain Film Festival Best Feature Length Mountain Film Mark Grieco Won[18]
2015 Sedona International Film Festival Best Documentary Mark Grieco Won[19]

References
  1. "2014 Sundance Docs in Focus: MARMATO". Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. "Sundance 2014: U.S. Documentary Competition". Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  3. Pamela McClintock, “Sundance: Candescent Films Announces 2014 Documentary Awards,” The Hollywood Reporter, January 18, 2014.
  4. "Meet the 2014 Sundance Filmmakers". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  5. "Sundance Highlights". Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  6. "Sundance Film Review: 'Marmato'". Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. "Review: 'Marmato'". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  8. "Review: 'Marmato Mines for Gold and Drama in Colombia'". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  9. "Marmato 2014 Sundance Review". Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  10. "Marmato: Sundance Review". Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  11. "54th FICCI: Cartagena Film Festival Announces Winners". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  12. "2014 Best of SIFF". Archived from the original on 2014-06-17. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
  13. "2014 AIFF Award Winners". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  14. "2014 Coral Prize Winners".
  15. "WINNERS OF EFFY 2014". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  16. "Astra 2014 Winners".
  17. "2014 SANTA FE INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL Award Winners".
  18. "2014 BANFF Award Winners".
  19. "2015 SEDONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Award Winners". Archived from the original on 2016-01-30.
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