The 16th HamptonsFilm’s SummerDocs festival returns once again this summer. SummerDocs is a much-anticipated occasion that will showcase some of the most captivating documentaries of the year.
On Friday, July 5, at 7 PM at Guild Hall in East Hampton, the SummerDocs series will open with a showing of Netflix’s Skywalker’s: A Love Story, which was co-directed by Maria Bukhonina and directed by Jeff Zimbalist. War Game starring Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber, will be the next film in the series, showing at Regal UA East Hampton Cinema on Saturday, July 20, at 7 PM. On Wednesday, August 14, at 7 PM at Guild Hall, Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui’s Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story will bring the series to a close.
David Nugent, the artistic director of HamptonsFilm, and Alec Baldwin, the chairman emeritus, will moderate discussions with filmmakers in attendance as well as distinguished guests, such as Will Reeve, the late Christopher Reeve’s son, Maria Bukhonina, Jesse Moss, and Tony Gerber. These talks should offer more in-depth understandings of the documentary-making process and the powerful narratives that each work tells.
“Each year, we strive to program our popular SummerDocs Series with some of the season’s most talked-about documentaries, and our 2024 edition is no exception,” said David Nugent. “The three titles we have curated this summer have each been met with incredible audience reception thus far, and it is a privilege to now preview them for our communities out East.”
Skywalker’s: A Love Story is a heartfelt documentary on a couple who are daredevils as they go on their bravest adventure yet. The two have the plan to climb the world’s last great skyscraper and it follows their story to do so, with all the emotion that goes into completing such a wild stunt.
The compelling and imaginative story of War Game, which was directed by Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber, takes place on January 6, 2025. It envisions a national uprising in which US military personnel defect to back the losing presidential candidate. From the Situation Room at the White House, the victorious candidate and his aides have to handle the problem. This movie explores America’s extreme political divisions and the possible fallout from them.
The moving documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story follows Christopher Reeve’s life from his ascent to stardom as the legendary Superman to the terrible horseback riding accident that left him crippled in 1995. The movie also showcases Reeve’s incredible advocacy for disability rights, highlighting his fortitude and unwavering spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.
HamptonsFilm Executive Director Anne Chaisson emphasized the significance of the documentaries selected for this year’s SummerDocs series. “The SummerDocs documentary showcase, a highlight of the Hamptons summer season, offers three uniquely powerful stories to stimulate conversation about the important challenges of our times: social media and internet stardom, America’s political divide, and the relentless spirit of humanity when faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge.”
In addition to giving viewers a chance to interact with compelling tales, the SummerDocs series promotes community building and conversation on important modern topics. Attendees can expect an unforgettable and educational experience from this year’s SummerDocs series as HamptonsFilm continues to elevate excellent documentary filmmaking.
