The 17th Hamptons Doc Fest Screens 32 Films Over Seven Days

Providing a festive opening to the holiday season, Hamptons Doc Fest celebrates its 17th year with a seven-day festival screening 32 documentary films from December 5 to 11 in Sag Harbor, both at the Sag Harbor Cinema and the Bay Street Theater.

This year’s Pennebaker Career Achievement Award on Saturday, December 7, will be presented at a gala starting at 6:30 p.m. at Bay Street Theater to Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, where his influential debut film “Roger & Me” about the devastating effect of General Motors’ plant closures in Flint, Michigan, will also be shown.

“We are so honored to present this year’s Pennebaker Career Achievement Award to Michael Moore,” said Hamptons Doc Fest artistic director Karen Arikian. “He is a true giant in the documentary field — an award-winning director, writer and producer of more than three decades of groundbreaking films. Through his unique ability to bring dark humor and biting satire to some of the very difficult topics he has tackled, he forever upended the way documentary stories were told, as well as the impact they can have on critical social issues.”

Opening Night Film at the Sag Harbor Cinema on Thursday, December 5, at 8 p.m. features “Merchant Ivory,” directed by Stephen Soucy, about the extraordinary film duo of producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, while the Closing Night Film “The Bones” at Bay Street Theater on Wednesday, December 11 at 7 p.m., directed by Jeremy Xido, travels the globe with paleontologists to unearth dinosaur fossils.

As in previous years, the festival presents the Young Voices Education Program on December 9, where the Take Two Film Academy will conduct a workshop on the elements of filmmaking for middle and high school students. New this year, Hamptons Doc Fest also launched a Hometown Heroes film contest, with the top three students winning a cash prize, and the top winner having the honor of premiering the film at the HDF’s Shorts & Breakfast Bites program on Sunday morning, December 8.

“Join us for a week of looking back at a film classic like Michael Moore’s ‘Roger & Me’ and moving forward with a dynamic line-up of just-out documentary films,” said Jacqui Lofaro, founder and executive director of Hamptons Doc Fest. “We are thrilled not only to showcase the extraordinary work of a diverse group of talented documentary filmmakers but also to recognize the people and organizations that make it all possible. Please come along for the ride. We think you’ll love the journey.”

For more information on the complete Hamptons Doc Fest, including other films that will be honored with awards, and to purchase tickets and passes for films at both theaters, visit hamptonsdocfest.com.