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A&E IndieFilms is the feature documentary arm of A&E Networks, which cultivates the best doc films to reach a smart, young and sophisticated audience. The division develops, produces and acquires cutting edge films which will debut under the A&E IndieFilms banner at the top film festivals and as they debut theatrically. A&E IndieFilms also serves as a marketing initiative which reveals an appealing dimension of the network's personality, and has the potential for multi-platform distribution.
In its first two years, A&E IndieFilms has gained an impressive track record, with both "Murderball" and "Jesus Camp" being nominated for Academy Awards. In production now are two films by marquis documentary directors: "American Teen" (wt) filmmaker Nanette Burstein ("The Kid Stays In the Picture," "On the Ropes") spent a year on location filming the intense drama of the quintessential American High School Senior class in Indiana. Also, famed documentarian R.J. Cutler ("American High", "The War Room" , "Black, White"). R.J. is the first filmmaker to get access to Vogue's editor-in-chief for A&E IndieFilms. "Vogue/ September Issue" (working title) follows Wintour as she opens the doors of her powerful office to a documentary putting together of the magazine's telephone-book-sized September issue. Current A&E IndieFilms are Amir Bar-Lev's "My Kid Could Paint That" which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and will be released theatrically by Sony Pictures Classics; and "Street Thief" was acquired at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival and will air on A&E Network on June 21, 2007. Other films in the A&E IndieFilms library include "One Strong Arm", "Rock School", "Abused", "Zen and the Art of Competitive Eating", and "Bearing Witness" directed by Barbara Kopple, Marijana Wotton and Bob Eisenhardt.
In 2005, A&E IndieFilms became the founding sponsor of a $25,000 works-in-progress grant with the International Documentary Association. In 2006, Heineken will match that grant -- and the winner will receive a total of $50,000. Also, A&E IndieFilms founded the Non-fiction grant for students in Columbia University's film program
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