Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival To Premiere ‘American Coup: Wilmington 1898,’ Honor Director Steve James, Showcase James Carville, Adam Kinzinger, Luther Vandross Films

EXCLUSIVE: The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival will host the world premiere of American Coup: Wilmington 1898, about a forgotten chapter in American history that saw a white supremacist mob terrorize Black residents of a North Carolina city, overthrowing an elected city government.

The film directed by Yoruba Richen and Brad Lichtenstein is among the highlights of the 33^rd edition of HSDFF, the oldest all-documentary film festival in North America. Directors Richen and Lichtenstein and two of the film’s main participants are expected to attend the festival, which runs October 18-26 in the Arkansas resort town. [Scroll for the full lineup]

HSDFF, presented by Oaklawn, will kick off with Space Cowboy, directed by Marah Strauch and Bryce Leavitt, fresh from its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film tells the story of Joe Jennings, a man who has pulled off some of the most amazing skydiving stunts in cinema history, some that involve hurling cars out of airplanes. Dawn Porter’s Luther: Never Too Much, about the late singer Luther Vandross, will close the festival on Saturday, October 26.

The world premiere of Louder Than Guns, directed by Doug Pray, will serve as the festival Centerpiece selection, screening Tuesday, October 22. HSDFF notes, “The film follows Ketch Secor, founding member of the bluegrass band Old Crow Medicine Show, and radio journalist David Greene as they seek to bring people together to have an open conversation about gun violence in America following a 2023 mass school shooting in Secor’s home community of Nashville.”

Steve James, one of America’s most acclaimed documentary filmmakers, will receive HSDFF’s Brent Renaud Career Achievement Award (an honor named for the late American journalist and filmmaker who was killed by Russian soldiers while covering the war in Ukraine in 2022). James’s work includes Hoop Dreams, Life Itself, The Interrupters, Oscar-nominated Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, and 2022’s A Compassionate Spy.

The HSDFF Impact Award will be presented to Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault, directors of Zurawski v Texas, which just held its world premiere at Telluride. Their timely documentary, which “reveals the aftermath of Roe v. Wade’s reversal by presenting the stories of women who faced life-threatening crises due to Texas’ harsh abortion law,” will screen at HSDFF, with Amanda Zurawski, one of the film’s main participants, in attendance.

The festival will host an expanded edition of the HSDFF Filmmaker Forum from Oct. 20–22, building off last year’s successful launch. The Forum, sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, convenes “filmmakers and industry leaders from throughout the South and mid-South regions and from across the U.S.,” offering three days of “dynamic programming focused on the business, art, and craft of documentary storytelling with a focus on public media, and a wider lens on the nonfiction ecosystem as a whole.”

HSDFF Executive Director Ken Jacobson said in a statement, “In our 33rd year, we continue to celebrate the vibrant art of documentary, while also spotlighting the creative process itself by highlighting two exciting works in progress and the screening of new shorts from our Documentary Filmmaking Workshop. We are also honored, for the second year in in a row, to be the host of the Filmmaker Forum, a three-day filmmaker and industry conference focused on supporting filmmakers in the South and Mid-South region, generously supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as well as Reel South and PBS.”

Jacobson continued, “In addition to our extraordinary Opening, Closing and Centerpiece films, all of which will have guests attending, we are also thrilled to honor one of the true documentary filmmaking stalwarts of our time, Steve James as our Career Achievement Award recipient. For this year’s Impact Award, we couldn’t be more pleased to honor two filmmakers, Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault, whose new documentary Zurawski v Texas is strikingly urgent, dealing with one of the critical issues being discussed during this election season. Finally, we break new ground for a documentary-focused film festival by looking at the art of the mockumentary and docudrama, via an Arkansas classic, The Legend of Boggy Creek.”

The latter film, released as a documentary in 1972, “was inspired by true events that happened in the small town of Fouke, Arkansas,” according to the film’s website, built around reported sightings of “an agressive sasqsuatch-like creature known as the ‘Fouke Monster,’” going back to the 1940s.

In a more serious vein, HSDFF will host a day devoted to Politics on Film, screening a quartet of films:

In addition to American Coup: Wilmington 1898, HSDFF Special Presentations include a 10th Anniversary Retrospective Screening of Reel South Shorts; Sam Green In Process, “in which acclaimed documentary filmmaker Sam Green, known for his innovative ‘live’ documentaries, presents material from his latest project, Trees”; and a special 30 for 30 15th Anniversary Panel celebrating the 15th Anniversary of ESPN’s groundbreaking 30 for 30 documentary series.

Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald, and Daniel Glick’s Bring Them Home, another HSDFF Special Presentation, launches the festival’s new Native/Indigenous Film Section. Bring Them Home “follows the Blackfeet Nation’s preparations to reintroduce bison to their ancestral lands for the first time in a century.”

The 2024 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival official selections:

GALA SELECTIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

Opening Night Gala Selection

Space Cowboy         

Directors: Marah Strauch, Bryce Leavitt

Country: USA  Running Time: 98 min

In this exhilarating and emotional documentary, legendary skydiver and cinematographer Joe Jennings reflects on his life creating art in the air. With dazzling stunts and intimate interviews, Space Cowboy takes audiences on the journey of a lifetime.

Centerpiece Gala Selection

Louder Than Guns  WORLD PREMIERE

Director: Doug Pray   

Country: USA  Running Time: 90 min

A 2023 mass shooting at a Nashville school took the lives of six children and adults, devastating the community. In response, Nashville parent Ketch Secor, founding member of the bluegrass band Old Crow Medicine Show, partnered with radio journalist David Greene to bring people together to have an open conversation about gun violence in America. Through music and conversation, a new path forward emerged.

Closing Night Gala Selection

Luther: Never Too Much     

Director: Dawn Porter

Country: USA  Running Time: 101 min

Luther Vandross left an indelible mark on the music world with his unforgettable voice and his prolific skills as a songwriter. Venture behind the scenes as Vandross rises from backing vocalist to Grammy-winning superstar.

Special Presentations

Bring Them Home

Directors: Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald, Daniel Glick

Country: USA  Running Time: 85 min

The Blackfeet Nation prepares to reintroduce bison to their ancestral lands for the first time in a century, embarking on a healing journey that restores balance between people, land, and animals.

Crisis: Behind A Presidential Commitment

Executive Producer: Robert Drew

Country: USA  Running Time: 53 min.

Released in 1963, Crisis, which helped launch the cinema verité movement in documentary, focuses on President Kennedy’s tactical response, unfolding in real time, to Alabama Gov. George Wallace’s opposition in the summer of ’63 to the court-ordered integration of the University of Alabama, his so-called “stand in the schoolhouse door”.Presented with the Clinton Presidential Center.

The Legend of Boggy Creek

Director: Charles B. Pierce

Country: USA  Running Time: 87 min           

“Here in this primitive river bottom wilderness in southern Arkansas… lurks a creature that walks upright…” In celebration of our new ongoing series, “It’s All Real: A Salute to Mockumentaries, Docudramas and Other Not Quite Documentaries”, join us for a special retrospective screening of Arkansas indie filmmaker Charles B. Pierce’s classic 1972 horror docudrama The Legend of Boggy Creek. A massive success at the time, the movie still retains its haunting grip on our collective imagination: “Is the Fouke monster real? Is it still out there?”

ADDITIONAL FEATURE SELECTIONS

A King Like Me         

Director: Matthew Henderson

Country: USA  Running Time: 85 min

A King Like Me is a vibrant exploration of the Zulu Krewe, a cornerstone of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras tradition. Through intimate portraits and colorful pageantry, the documentary traces the roots of this historic Black organization and celebrates a resilient community.

Agent of Happiness 

Directors: Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó     

Country: Bhutan  Running Time: 93 min

In Bhutan, the Gross National Happiness Index is used to measure the contentment of the population. Agents like Amber traverse the country, evaluating different aspects of life to gauge joy. 

American Coup: Wilmington 1898  WORLD PREMIERE

Directors: Yoruba Richen, Brad Lichtenstein

Country: USA  Running Time: 116 min

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 illuminates one of the most shocking incidents of white supremacy in US history. In 1898, an organized mob of white men in Wilmington, NC terrorized the city’s black community, and overthrew the city’s elected government, impacting generations to come.

American Delivery   

Director: Carolyn Jones         

Country: USA  Running Time: 83 min

​​In the United States, maternal mortality rates are the highest among wealthy nations. Through personal stories of birth and parenting, American Delivery examines this crisis and the urgent efforts to improve healthcare. 

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story 

Directors: Michael Mabbott, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee 

Country: USA  Running Time: 98 min

Trans soul singer Jackie Shane found success as a recording and performing artist in the 1960s, but she disappeared from the public eye in the following decade. This electrifying documentary presents a vivid portrait of an artist ahead of her time. 

Apocalypse in the Tropics  

Director: Petra Costa 

Country: Brazil  Running Time: 110 min

Petra Costa revisits the volatile, complex terrain of Brazilian presidential politics in this riveting follow up to her 2019 Academy Award-nominated masterpiece The Edge of Democracy.

The Battle for Laikipia         

Directors: Daphne Matziaraki, Pete Murimi  

Country: Kenya  Running Time: 94 min

In Laikipia, Kenya, unresolved historical injustices and climate change intensify a long-standing conflict between Indigenous pastoralists and white landowners, escalating tensions over land and resources.

Blink  

Directors: Edmund Stenson, Daniel Roher   

Country: Canada  Running Time:84 min

When three of the four Pelletier children are diagnosed with a degenerative eye disorder, the family embarks on a global adventure, celebrating the world’s beauty before the kids’ vision fades forever.

The Bones    

Director: Jeremy Xido

Countries: Canada/Germany  Running Time: 98 min

Part true crime caper, part Jurassic Park. At the crossroads of capitalism and colonialism, this enthralling documentary delves into the high-stakes market for dinosaur fossils.

Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid

Director: Matt Tyrnauer          

Country: USA  Running Time: 98 min

Political consultant James Carville was heralded as a strategic genius for masterminding Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign, but it was his portrayal in the classic documentary “The War Game” that made him a legend. Acclaimed filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer breaks down the Carville legend and reveals how the “Ragin’ Cajun’s” ability to size up the 2024 campaign and the state of American politics shows that his instincts (and his elbows) are as sharp as ever.

Champions of the Golden Valley   

Director: Ben Sturgulewski    

Country: Afghanistan  Running Time: 81 min

Champions of the Golden Valley follows one athlete’s mission to introduce skiing to Afghanistan. With minimal equipment but boundless determination, he trains local youth and organizes an annual race that inspires the community.

Dahomey       

Director: Mati Diop     

Countries: France/Senegal/Benin  Running Time: 68 min

When France invaded the Kingdom of Dahomey, royal treasures were looted and brought to Europe. Nearly 130 years later, these items are returned to the Republic of Benin. Witness the complex and historic journey in this poetic documentary.

The Death Tour        

Director: Stephan Peterson   

Country: Canada   Running Time: 89 min

A group of wrestlers embark on Canada’s most grueling professional wrestling tour, revealing along the way the harsh realities of life on the road and the personal sacrifices made in pursuit of a dream.

Driver

Director: Nesa Azimi  

Country: USA  Running Time: 92 min

When Desiree Wood begins a new life as a long-haul truck driver, she becomes an advocate for fair conditions in a male-dominated field. Working with a coalition of women drivers, Desiree confronts significant industry challenges with humor and determination

Every Little Thing    

Director: Sally Aitken 

Country: USA  Running Time: 93 min

Terry Masear operates a hummingbird hotline and rescue in Los Angeles. She treats the birds with care and respect, getting to know each of their unique personalities as she aids in their recovery and eventual release.

Happy Campers       

Director: Amy Nicholson        

Country: USA  Running Time: 80 min

Happy Campers is a joyful profile of a vibrant Virginian beachside community savoring their last summer together before their beloved trailer park is closed for redevelopment. Amidst the impending change, the residents celebrate life’s simple pleasures with the remaining time they have together.

Homecoming

Directors: Suvi West, Anssi Kömi      

Countries: Finland/Norway  Running Time: 77 min

Homecoming follows a Sámi filmmaker’s journey to reclaim stolen cultural artifacts, celebrating the return of her people’s heritage as they prepare to open the first museum on indigenous Sámi land.

The Last Republican

Director: Steve Pink   

Country: USA  Running Time: 88 min

Representative Adam Kinzinger was a rising star in the Republican party, until his conscience got the better of him. Kinzinger’s moral stands, especially those following the events of January 6th, and the political price he paid for them, are poignantly captured in this alternately reflective and amusing, of-the-moment documentary by an unexpected source: Hollywood filmmaker Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine).

Made In Ethiopia      

Directors: Max Duncan, Xinyan Yu   

Countries: USA/Denmark/Canada   Running Time: 91 min

Following a Chinese factory director, a factory worker, and a local farmer, this fascinating documentary explores the impact of a Chinese industrial park on a community in Ethiopia.

Martha           

Director: R.J. Cutler   

Country: USA  Running Time: 115 min

She’s an international icon, but how well do we know the “real” Martha Stewart? Acclaimed filmmaker RJ Cutler provides an incisive, intimate portrait of the groundbreaking woman who virtually refined the American home, but who couldn’t always fix everything in her own life.

Mistress Dispeller    

Director: Elizabeth Lo

Country: China  Running Time: 94 min

A Chinese couple’s marriage is rocked by infidelity, but the true intrigue begins when the distraught wife calls in a most unusual third party, a so-called “mistress dispeller” — known for her ability to keep married couples together.

No Other Land          

Directors: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal          

Countries: Palestine/Norway  Running Time: 96 min

No Other Land follows Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham as they navigate the harsh realities of the West Bank’s occupation, offering a powerful exploration of friendship, injustice, and hope amidst conflict.

On The Way Home   

Director: Giorgi Kvelidze        

Country: Georgia  Running Time: 62 min

Driven from their homes by war and continued threats of violence, refugees from the country of Georgia find housing and community in the abandoned resorts and wellness facilities in Tskaltubo.

Porcelain War           

Directors: Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev

Countries: Australia/USA/Ukraine  Running Time: 87 min

Ukrainian artists Slava, Anya, and Andrey must defend their country and their way of life after the Russian invasion in 2022. Creating art becomes a necessary form of resistance as occupying forces work to destroy culture and identity.

The Pryce of Love   

Director: Russell Schaap       

Country: USA  Running Time: 79 min

The name “Pryce Robertson” might not mean much to you — at least not yet — but in Camden, Arkansas, chances are that most townspeople have encountered Pryce at one time or another and are the better for it. As someone born on the autism spectrum, Pryce had many challenges to overcome growing up. But through the love, commitment and faith of his family and friends, as well as his own extraordinary determination, Pryce has shown just what is possible when you refuse to accept the limitations that others may have put on you. Executive Produced by Quinn Grovey. Prepare to be inspired.

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin        

Director: Benjamin Ree         

Country: Norway  Running Time: 104 min

For Mats Steen, playing World of Warcraft became an important tool for self-expression and building community. After his death at only 25-years-old, his parents discover the impact of their son’s online persona.

Rising up at night    

Director: Nelson Makengo     

Country: DR Congo  Running Time: 96 min

Delays on a major hydroelectric power plant have left the citizens of Kinshasa without consistent access to electricity. As the sun sets, residents must navigate the challenges and uncertainties that come with the darkness each night.

Rooted          

Directors: Bridget Besaw, Par Parekh           

Country: USA  Running Time: 93 min

Germaine Jackson transforms a vacant city lot in a food desert into a thriving urban farm. But, as gentrification and outside pressures challenge her continued access to the lot, she must fight to keep the community’s source of fresh food in operation.

Secret Mall Apartment        

Director: Jeremy Workman    

Country: USA  Running Time: 91 min

A mall goes up in downtown Providence and a group of displaced renegade artists decide to seek revenge — by building their own apartment inside the belly of the beast.

Shari & Lamb Chop 

Director: Lisa D’Apolito          

Country: USA  Running Time: 92 min

Shari & Lamb Chop celebrates Shari Lewis, the beloved ventriloquist who captivated audiences for five decades. From late-night shows to her iconic children’s program, she continues to inspire today with her groundbreaking puppetry and legacy in entertainment.

Standing Above the Clouds

Director: Jalena Keane-Lee  

Country: USA  Running Time: 83 min

In Hawai’i, the sacred mountain Mauna Kea is marred by an array of telescopes on its summit. A determined group of Hawaiian activists rise up to protect their mountain from further desecration when a thirty-meter telescope is proposed.

True Believer            

Director: Kristen Irving           

Country: USA  Running Time: 93 min

Director Kristen Irving embarks on a deeply personal investigation into her conservative religious upbringing, uncovering the complex history behind the rise of Christian Nationalism and its lasting impact on modern American politics.

The World According to Allee Willis          

Director: Alexis Manya Spraic

Country: USA  Running Time: 98 min

“I’ll Be There For You.” “September.” “The Color Purple.” You love her music, but do you know Allee Willis? Meet the brilliant songwriter behind the pop hits, Broadway tunes, and TV anthems that have shaped popular culture.

Zurawski v Texas     

Directors: Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault         

Country: USA  Running Time: 99 min

Zurawski v Texas reveals the aftermath of Roe v. Wade’s reversal by presenting the stories of women who faced life-threatening crises due to Texas’ harsh abortion laws. Their legal battles expose the perilous intersection between medical care and rigid legislation.

SERIES SELECTION

Dallas, 2019  

Director: Darius Clark Monroe                       

Country: USA  Running Time: 100 min

For residents of Dallas, Texas, personal hopes collide with the political realities of a changing community. This intimate episodic documentary examines how a city functions by showcasing the diverse voices of the people who live there.

SHORT FILM SELECTIONS

A Move          

Director: Elahe Esmaili          

Countries: United Kingdom/Iran  Running Time: 27 min

A Swim Lesson        

Directors: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack  

Country: USA  Running Time: 21 min

The Accidental Archivists   

Director: Scott Calonico           

Country: USA  Running Time: 10 min

American Grail: A Quest for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker         

Director: Andy Sarjahani        

Country: USA  Running Time: 16 min

Bad Hostage 

Director: Mimi Wilcox 

Country: USA  Running Time: 39 min

Baigal Nuur – Lake Baikal   

Director: Alisi Telengut           

Countries: Canada/Germany Running Time: 9 min

Barbette + Fontaine 

Directors: John-Carlos Estrada, Zak Zeh     

Country: USA  Running Time: 15 min

Dear Aloha    

Director: Cris Romento          

Country: USA  Running Time: 16 min

Doom & Despair      

Director: Jonathan Childs      

Country: USA  Running Time: 21 min

Dynasty and Destiny

Director: Travis Lee Ratcliff   

Country: USA  Running Time: 6 min

The Final Copy of Ilon Specht        

Director: Ben Proudfoot         

Country: USA  Running Time: 17 min

Flat Town

Director: Bryan Tucker

Country: USA  Running Time: 24 min

Florida Woman

Director Catie Skipp              

Country: USA  Running Time 22 min

For Those That Lived There

Director: Shawn Antoine II     

Country: USA  Running Time: 7 min

Good Enough Ancestor      

Director: Cynthia Wade         

Country: Taiwan, USA Running Time: 21 min

Hold the Line

Director: Daniel Lombroso    

Country: USA  Running Time: 17 min

I Am Ready, Warden

Director: Smriti Mundhra       

Country: USA  Running Time: 37 min

Jamie 

Director: Darcy Hennessey   

Country: USA  Running Time: 19 min

Little Bit        

Director: Raeden Greer         

Country: USA  Running Time: 6 min

Livestreams with GrandmaPuzzles          

Director: Emily Sheskin         

Country: USA Running Time: 6 min

Love in the Time of Migration        

Directors: Erin Semine Kökdil, Chelsea Good Abbas           

Countries: USA/Guatemala  Running Time: 21 min

Lynn’s Fire    

Director: Steve Zahn 

Country: USA  Running Time: 7 min

Ma ŋaye ka Masaala a se ka Wɔmɛti (From God To Man)           

Director: Lansana Mansaray 

Country: Sierra Leone  Running Time: 15 min

Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World     

Director: Julio Palacio

Country: USA  Running Time: 23 min

Mama’s Sundry        

Directors: Brody Kuhar, Joshua Cannon      

Country: USA  Running Time: 15 min

Missing At Sea         

Director: Nicole Noren           

Country: Greece, USA  Running Time: 21 min

More Than Brothers

Director: Andrea von Siebenthal       

Country: USA  Running Time: 22 min

Mother(s) and Son

Director: Kiersten Houser

Country: USA  Running Time: 12 min

Motorcycle Mary      

Director: Haley Watson         

Country: USA  Running Time: 22 min

Nothing Special       

Director: Efrat Berger

Countries: France/Israel  Running Time: 15 min

Our Neighbors, The Peacocks       

Director: Callie Barlow           

Country: USA  Running Time: 23 min

The People Could Fly          

Director: Imani Nikyah Dennison      

Country: USA  Running Time: 21 min

Public Defender       

Director: Andrea Kalin

Country: USA  Running Time: 40 min

Quebrante     

Director: Janaina Wagner      

Country: Brazil  Running Time: 23 min

The Quilters  

Director: Jenifer McShane     

Country: USA  Running Time: 31 min

Sandcastles  

Director: Carin Leong

Countries: USA/Singapore   Running Time: 17 min

Sangre Violenta / Sangre Violeta   

Directors: Edna Diaz, Arturo R. Jiménez      

Countries: Mexico/USA  Running Time: 15 min

Sarah Thankam Mathews: After All This   

Director: Andrew Nadkarni    

Countries: USA/Oman  Running Time: 25 min

Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr        

Director: Kimberly Reed        

Country: USA   Running Time: 15 min

Shotplayer    

Director: Samuel Shainberg  

Country: USA  Running Time: 22 min

The Smallest Power

Director: Andy Sarjahani        

Country: USA  Running Time: 7 min

Soul City 

Director: Monica Berra

Country: USA Running Time: 24 min

Stud Country

Directors: Lina Abascal, Alexandra Kern      

Country: USA  Running Time: 11 min

Tahnaanooku’          

Director: Justin Deegan         

Country: USA  Running Time: 7 min

There Was Nobody Here We knew

Director: Khaula Malik

Country: USA  Running Time: 9 min

Tiny    

Directors: Ritchie Hemphill, Ryan Haché      

Country: Canada  Running Time: 16 min

To Be Destroyed      

Director: Arthur Bradford       

Country: USA  Running Time: 30 min

We Ride For Her       

Directors: Katrina Lillian Sorrentino, Prairie Rose Seminole            

Country: USA  Running Time: 18 min

Wild Hogs and Saffron        

Director: Andy Sarjahani        

Country: USA  Running Time: 19 min

Winding Path            

Directors: Alexandra Lazarowich, Ross Kauffman   

Country: USA  Running Time: 10 min

Wouldn’t Make It Any Other Way   

Director: Hao Zhou    

Countries: USA/Guam  Running Time: 21 min

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