THE GENIUS OF MARIAN
Synopsis
THE GENIUS OF MARIAN follows Pam White in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease as her son, the filmmaker, documents her struggles to hang on to her sense of self by remembering her mother — the renowned artist Marian Williams Steel. The film starts following Pam a few months after her diagnosis at age 61. Day-by-day change is slow, month-by-month it's noticeable and year by year it's devastating. The film itself is a powerful and emotional work of art with many visual textures, including super 8 family films — spanning 60 years, Marian's paintings, and old photographs. THE GENIUS OF MARIAN is both an intimate look at a much-feared illness and a loving portrait of the meaning of family.
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The Filmmakers
Banker White Director/Producer
Banker White is a multi-disciplinary artist based in San Francisco. He is the director and producer of SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS, which tells the story of a group of six Sierra Leonean musicians. The film was nominated by the IDA for best feature in 2006; won grand jury awards at AFI Fest, Full Frame Film Festival and Human Rights Watch Film Festival; and earned audience awards at SXSW and Miami International Film Festival. It was also broadcast on POV in North America, HBO Latin America and NHK in Japan. Banker also founded WeOwnTV, a collaborative filmmaking and storytelling project based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This project is supported by Creative Capital, Freedom to Create, the Bertha Foundation and the Bay Area Video Coalition.
Anna Fitch Co-Director, Producer
Anna Fitch is an Emmy award-winning director with a background in natural history filmmaking and a degree in Entomology. She has produced and directed documentaries for National Geographic Television, TLC, Channel Four (UK), and PBS. Awards and nominations include: an Emmy Award for Best Documentary Directing for BUGWORLD: WAR OF TWO WORLDS; a CINE special jury award for Best Environment and Natural Science Film for BUG ATTACK; and a VideoFest MCCLA Best Documentary award for MANMADE: THE BRA. Anna also directed the short narrative film, THE BURNING WIGS OF SEDITION (2010), featuring the Extra Action Marching Band.
Festivals & Awards
Tribeca Film Festival
2013
Official Selection
Hot Docs International Film Festival
2013
Official Selection
Camden International Film Festival
2013
Winner - Harrell Award for Best Documentary Feature
AFI Docs
2013
Official Selection
Washington West Int’l Film Festival
2013
Winner - Grand Jury Award
Moscow Int’l Film Festival
2013
Official Selection
Heartland Int’l Film Festival
2013
Winner - Festival Award
Reviews
“More than just a personal memoir, the film aspires to poetry”
-Boston Globe
“It’s remarkable film, not only for the obvious affection with which it was made, but as art.”
-Indiewire
“A touching accomplishment in documentary cinema.”
-NY Film Examiner
“You won't want to miss it. ”
-Huffington Post