Kino Lorber Releases Pioneers of African-American Cinema on Blu-ray, DVD in July

Kino Lorber is proud to announce the release of Pioneers of African-American Cinema, a monumental five-disc set representing the significant but long-overlooked achievements of early, independent African-American filmmakers.

Among the most fascinating chapters of film history is that of the so-called "race films" that flourished in the 1920s - '40s. Unlike the "black cast" films produced within the Hollywood studio (such as Stormy Weather or Green Pastures), these films not only starred African Americans but were funded, written, produced, directed, distributed, and often exhibited by people of color. Entrepreneurial filmmakers  not only built an industry apart from the Hollywood establishment, they cultivated visual and narrative styles that were uniquely their own.

Defying convention and operating outside the studio system, these filmmakers were the forefathers (and -mothers) of the French New Wave, the L.A. Rebellion, and  the entirety of American indie cinema. Previously circulated in poor-quality 16mm prints, these newly restored versions allow us to witness the legacies of Oscar  Micheaux, Spencer Williams, and James and Eloyce Gist with fresh eyes - proving that, anything but imitative, these Pioneers of African-American Cinema were purely
innovative.

"Fastball" Flies into Theatres This Weekend, DVD/BD Soon

FASTBALL , the movie opens theatrically in 28 cities today.   DVD and Blu Ray release date is announcing soon from Kino, so check out the trailer now (below from B&T).

 

As explained in the fascinating new documentary FASTBALL, that seemingly arbitrary distance is actually a nearly perfect balance point between the two players on either side of the ball. From that distance, a pitch thrown as fast as a human being can possibly throw – somewhere just above 100 mph if you are an elite pitcher – is delivered at a speed that is right at the threshold for how quickly the most talented of hitters can see, process, and react to the pitch. At that highest level of execution, batters and umpires alike swear the ball “rises” as it reaches home plate – something that physics tells us is impossible.

That’s just one of the mysteries, myths, and memories investigated and revealed in FASTBALL, based on the original idea by the film’s Producer, Thomas Tull, who also produced the feature film “42” and who is a Board Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The film features interviews with dozens of former players, from legendary Hall of Famers to up-and-coming All-Stars. FASTBALL documents the history of the “fastest” pitcher – from Walter Johnson’s famous speed of 122 feet per second, to Bob Feller’s post-war record of 98.6 mph, to Nolan Ryan’s “officially” clocked best of 100.9, to the current speed gun king Aroldis Chapman’s 105.1.

Kino Lorber Reveals DEUTCHLAND 83 DVD Release Plans

Kino Lorber proudly announces the DVD release of SundanceTV's DEUTSCHLAND 83, a groundbreaking new eight hour series presented in  partnership with FremantleMedia International. Produced for RTL Television in Germany by UFA Fiction, the producers of the international Emmy award-winning Generation War, DEUTSCHLAND 83 is the first German-language series to be broadcast in the USA.  And it is Kino Lorber's first home entertainment release of an international
TV series.

The DVD, which will be released in the US on September 29th with a SRP of $29.95,
includes all eight episodes on three discs, packed with bonus features including  interviews and a Q&A with the show's cast and creators.  "As a company known for the best in world cinema we could not be more proud to launch our first foray into international TVwith Deutschland '83. Its fascinating narrative, depth of characters, multi-layered historical context and superb production values establish a new benchmark for theso called golden age of television, a series as nourishing intellectually and artistically as it is addictively entertaining. For discriminating viewers, whether binge or
not, this will be time well spent..."

Created by Anna and Jörg Winger, DEUTSCHLAND 83is a coming-of-age story within a  suspenseful thriller, set against the real events, culture wars, and political realities of Germany during the 1980s. Featuring a soundtrack of '80s pop hits from artists such as Nena, Peter Schilling, Duran Duran and more, the series presents  a vivid depiction of Germany at the height of the Cold War, depicting the cultural tensions between the East and West, and presenting a different perspective on similar historical events as seen in the current TV show The Americans. Set against this pivotal moment in modern political history, the series is told from the point of view of a 24-year-old East German soldier who goes undercover in West Germany and encounters a different way of life through his experiences.

TOUGH BEING LOVED BY JERKS Out June 9

On the morning of January 7th, 2015, the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo were attacked, and twelve people were killed. Two brothers affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) carried out the crime, a reaction to Hebdo's publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

The documentary Tough Being Loved by Jerks (2008) turns back the calendar to 2006, just after the publication of the caricatures of Muhammad, and documents the firestorm of controversy that it provoked. Because he had published the twelve Danish cartoons that had triggered the wrath of Muslims worldwide, Philippe Val, the editor of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical newspaper, was cited to court by the Great Mosque of Paris, the World Muslim League and the Union of Islamic Organizations of France.

Director Daniel Leconte captured the court proceedings brought against Charlie Hebdo by the Great Mosque of Paris, the World Muslim League and the Union of Islamic Organizations of France. He had been covering this extraordinary trial in real time, aiming at deciphering the international political, ideological and media-related stakes with the key participants. The film features lawyers, witnesses, the media, editorial conferences, demonstrations of support... as well as the stances of intellectuals and politicians, the reactions of the prosecutors and of Muslim countries...