Lineup Announced, Tickets on Sale, for American Documentary Film Festival

By City News Service:

The lineup for the fifth annual American Documentary Film Festival known as AmDocs features 150 films from more than 35 countries, organizers announced this week.

Set to take place from March 30 through April 4, AmDocs -- which is put on by a nonprofit operating as part of the Palm Springs Cultural Center -- offers a range of documentaries that will suit practically any interest, according to founder and festival director Teddy Grouya.

Thousands of attendees are expected to turn out to see films which focus on themes such as immigration, aging, people living with disabilities, homelessness, mental illness, the independent music scene, the environment, the arts, and the LGBT community, he said. There’s a special focus on Swiss films, too, on April 1.

The opening night red carpet event will showcase “Tony Robbins: I am Not Your Guru” by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger, who will be presented with the Seeing the Bigger Picture Award.

Grouya said Berlinger’s film sets the scene for what will be an exciting and diverse festival, and he noted that three additional films by Berlinger will be screened, as well -- “Brother’s Keeper,” “Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger” and “Under African Skies.”

Festival documentaries are shown at various local venues, including Camelot Theatres in the Palm Springs Mall, the Helene Galen Theatre in Rancho Mirage, the Indian Wells Theater and Oliphant Auditorium in Palm Desert.

To see the full schedule, and to purchase tickets, visit www.americandocumentaryfilmfestival.com or go to the Camelot Theatres box office at 2300 E. Baristo Road.