Daily Recommendation 10.01.08: Ballast

For today’s IONCINEMA.com Daily Recommendation we suggest:

I side with indie maverick producer Ted Hope’s recent comments about the state of indie film. It is not dead. Far from it. For those who aren’t keeping score – it is Ballast week here on IONCINEMA.com. Benjamin had the chance to sit down with director Lance Hammer for an exclusive interview, and today the Film Forum is the very first pit stop on what I imagine will be, a lengthy, grassroots, theatrical release tour. Simply put, this is one of the best American Independent film directorial debuts of the past decade. It’s the real deal folks. Look for my review shortly.

Today, Hammer will be on hand to present his film which starts its two week run at the FF, and he will make an appearance at the Apple Store SoHo on Friday as part of Indiewire’s regular QandA series. I imagine that the filmmaker will field a number of questions about his bold decision of taking the DIY route with the distribution of the film.

Btw: Ballast was the winner of the Best Director and Best Cinematography prizes at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, and screened in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, as well as the Boston (Grand Jury Prize), San Francisco (FIPRESCI Prize), Buenos Aires (FIPRESCI and Directing Awards), and New Directors/New Films festivals.