While corporate consolidation has led to smaller documentary production budgets and fewer indie doc sales, the demand for true-crime docus has skyrocketed over the last few years.
That’s good news for documentary production companies like Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus’ Story Syndicate. This year, Garbus, Cogan and Story Syndicate’s head of documentary and nonfiction, Jon Bardin, have produced three true-crime documentaries: Hulu’s “Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence,” Netflix’s” Take Care of Maya” and HBO’s “Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York.”
About a string of murders in 1990’s Manhattan, “Last Call,” like “Stolen Youth” and “Take Care of Maya,” has become a hit with audiences and critics alike. (The final episode in the four-part series air on July 30.)
Variety spoke with Bardin, Cogan and Garbus about what they are looking for in a true-crime project and what they steer...
That’s good news for documentary production companies like Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus’ Story Syndicate. This year, Garbus, Cogan and Story Syndicate’s head of documentary and nonfiction, Jon Bardin, have produced three true-crime documentaries: Hulu’s “Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence,” Netflix’s” Take Care of Maya” and HBO’s “Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York.”
About a string of murders in 1990’s Manhattan, “Last Call,” like “Stolen Youth” and “Take Care of Maya,” has become a hit with audiences and critics alike. (The final episode in the four-part series air on July 30.)
Variety spoke with Bardin, Cogan and Garbus about what they are looking for in a true-crime project and what they steer...
- 7/28/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
“Take Care of Maya,” the new feature documentary on Netflix spotlighting medical world instances of families being falsely accused of child abuse, is meant to be the “beginning of the conversation” about a harrowing topic that remains misunderstood to many people, director Henry Roosevelt told TheWrap.
“There’s rarely an hour that goes by that we’re not getting a tweet, direct message, email, phone call or letter. It really shows you how widespread this problem is and how many people are experiencing something similar,” producer Caitlin Keating said. “People are saying that they saw themselves in this film in some way and the response has been overwhelming.”
The sometimes hard-to-watch documentary delves into the heartbreaking case of now 17-year-old Maya Kowalski, who was kept at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for three months in 2016 against her will because doctors blamed her parents of “medical child abuse.”
At age...
“There’s rarely an hour that goes by that we’re not getting a tweet, direct message, email, phone call or letter. It really shows you how widespread this problem is and how many people are experiencing something similar,” producer Caitlin Keating said. “People are saying that they saw themselves in this film in some way and the response has been overwhelming.”
The sometimes hard-to-watch documentary delves into the heartbreaking case of now 17-year-old Maya Kowalski, who was kept at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for three months in 2016 against her will because doctors blamed her parents of “medical child abuse.”
At age...
- 7/15/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
The Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya, directed by Henry Roosevelt, introduces us to Maya Kowalski and her tragic journey from illness to health. Through this documentary, she wanted to present her mother’s tireless efforts behind restoring her health as well as expose the flaws within our legal system. Her journey showcases the loss of her loved one and her constant struggle to return to normalcy. Let’s delve into the chilling true story of Maya Kowalski’s family to know what happened to her.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happened To Maya Kowalski?
Maya was born in Venice, Florida, and lived a peaceful, regular childhood, much like any other young girl in the town. Her father, Jack, was a dedicated firefighter, and her mother, Beata, pursued a career as a nurse. Beata was an inspiration to her, showing that hard work and determination could help her overcome any obstacle. Her younger brother,...
Spoilers Ahead
What Happened To Maya Kowalski?
Maya was born in Venice, Florida, and lived a peaceful, regular childhood, much like any other young girl in the town. Her father, Jack, was a dedicated firefighter, and her mother, Beata, pursued a career as a nurse. Beata was an inspiration to her, showing that hard work and determination could help her overcome any obstacle. Her younger brother,...
- 6/20/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
There are medical nightmares, and there are legal nightmares. The story at the heart of Take Care of Maya encompasses both. The new Netflix documentary, premiering June 19, presents a damning account of how a sort of hospital-run child abuse/Cps mill allegedly destroyed one family in slow motion, keeping a sick girl from her parents until one of her parents could no longer take it. Like most documentaries, this one will play differently if you haven’t been following the real-life story, so continue reading with caution if you value the element of surprise.
- 6/19/2023
- by Chris Vognar
- Rollingstone.com
Take Care of Maya is a documentary directed by Henry Roosevelt that tells the story of Maya, a patient suffering from chronic regional pain who was treated with Ketamine. The treatment involved inducing a five-day coma with Ketamine, a risky procedure that was only being done in Mexico at the time. Despite the potential danger, Maya recovered well after the procedure. However, a year later, Maya was admitted again, and this time, a different nightmare began. She was diagnosed with Munchausen by proxy, and the State of Florida took custody of her. Child protection services in Florida are privatized and have the power to take custody of a child if there is a risk involved.
This led to a legal battle between lawyers, custody battles, and a bureaucratic system in which Maya was caught in the middle. Regardless of who was right or wrong, the young girl was the one who suffered the most.
This led to a legal battle between lawyers, custody battles, and a bureaucratic system in which Maya was caught in the middle. Regardless of who was right or wrong, the young girl was the one who suffered the most.
- 6/19/2023
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. Netflix releases the film on its streaming platform on Monday, June 19.
When Maya Kowalski was 10 years old, the once-vibrant Florida youngster started exhibiting a worrying array of ailments: Her feet began cramping and curling inward, she couldn’t stop coughing, headaches nearly incapacitated her, and lesions appeared on her limbs. Her doting parents, Jack and Beata, were desperate for not even a cure but simply a diagnosis of what was ailing their beloved firstborn. For Beata, a Polish immigrant and nurse known for her direct nature, it was yet another challenge to overcome, another medical mystery to unravel.
What would unfold over the next few years was a nightmare even the always-prepared Beata couldn’t possibly predict, a complicated story with a heartbreaking — and wholly unfinished — conclusion that should terrify everyone. First-time feature filmmaker Henry Roosevelt attempts...
When Maya Kowalski was 10 years old, the once-vibrant Florida youngster started exhibiting a worrying array of ailments: Her feet began cramping and curling inward, she couldn’t stop coughing, headaches nearly incapacitated her, and lesions appeared on her limbs. Her doting parents, Jack and Beata, were desperate for not even a cure but simply a diagnosis of what was ailing their beloved firstborn. For Beata, a Polish immigrant and nurse known for her direct nature, it was yet another challenge to overcome, another medical mystery to unravel.
What would unfold over the next few years was a nightmare even the always-prepared Beata couldn’t possibly predict, a complicated story with a heartbreaking — and wholly unfinished — conclusion that should terrify everyone. First-time feature filmmaker Henry Roosevelt attempts...
- 6/11/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Officially, the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere is June 21st… but for the Netflix streaming service, the summer season is going to start this Friday, May 12th. And with that date just a couple days away, Netflix has gone ahead and unveiled their entire summer movie slate! They say that “whether you’ve got a hankering for a massive action blockbuster, a romantic comedy or an eye-opening documentary”, Netflix will be the place to turn to this summer. So let’s take a look at this line-up:
May 12
The Mother
Genre: Action
Logline: An assassin comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci and Gael García Bernal
Director: Niki Caro
May 16
Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me
Genre: Documentary
Logline: From...
May 12
The Mother
Genre: Action
Logline: An assassin comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men.
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci and Gael García Bernal
Director: Niki Caro
May 16
Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me
Genre: Documentary
Logline: From...
- 5/10/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The Tribeca Film Festival announced its 2020 Shorts Program lineup Thursday including the world premiere of DreamWorks Animation’s To Gerard and projects with Benedict Cumberbatch, Dennis Quaid and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
As cancellations and postponements rock the entertainment landscape, Tribeca said it’s still a go. “We are tracking the COVID19 (coronavirus) situation closely. If we receive pertinent information that requires us to make any changes to the Tribeca Film Festival taking place from April 15-26, we will provide an updated statement. As of right now, there are no direct impacts to our festival.” a spokesperson said Thursday.
The shorts roster for the 19th annual fest has 64 shorts from 20 countries, including 46 world premieres, selected from a record 6,100 submissions, organizers said.
Whoopi Goldberg again curated the animated portion. And back for a second year are two portrayals of diverse women from the Queen Collective by Procter & Gamble in partnership with Queen Latifah.
As cancellations and postponements rock the entertainment landscape, Tribeca said it’s still a go. “We are tracking the COVID19 (coronavirus) situation closely. If we receive pertinent information that requires us to make any changes to the Tribeca Film Festival taking place from April 15-26, we will provide an updated statement. As of right now, there are no direct impacts to our festival.” a spokesperson said Thursday.
The shorts roster for the 19th annual fest has 64 shorts from 20 countries, including 46 world premieres, selected from a record 6,100 submissions, organizers said.
Whoopi Goldberg again curated the animated portion. And back for a second year are two portrayals of diverse women from the Queen Collective by Procter & Gamble in partnership with Queen Latifah.
- 3/5/2020
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
DreamWorks Animation’s latest short, “To: Gerard,” a love letter to Manhattan and magic, directed by storyboard artist Taylor Meacham (“Trolls”), will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 18. It’s about a mailman named Gerard who dreams of becoming a magician with the help of a young girl, a legendary master named The Great Vivonti, and a very special coin.
“New York has such a historical wealth of great filmmakers that have deeply inspired me while growing up, and Manhattan is where I first got my foot in the door within the film industry,” said Meacham, who was also inspired by his father and how he helped unify his love of animation and the art of illusion. “Because of my relation to this city, it feels like such a gift to be able to come back to New York and the Tribeca Film Festival to share a part...
“New York has such a historical wealth of great filmmakers that have deeply inspired me while growing up, and Manhattan is where I first got my foot in the door within the film industry,” said Meacham, who was also inspired by his father and how he helped unify his love of animation and the art of illusion. “Because of my relation to this city, it feels like such a gift to be able to come back to New York and the Tribeca Film Festival to share a part...
- 3/5/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has wrapped for 2020, concluding a slate that featured more than 120 world and American premieres, panels, tributes, and education programs. The festival has announced its award winners for the 35th edition, including the Audience Award, which went to Richard Hobert’s “The Birdcatcher’s Son.”
The films were chosen by jury members Jason Baffa, Max Barbakow, Lisa Black, Alex Carter, Geoff Green, Paul Kurta, Perry Lang, Artie Schmidt, Rita Taggart, Diego Tinoco, John Williams, and Anthony and Arnette Zerbe.
Among those who received tributes and honors in their respective categories were Renée Zellweger (American Riviera Award), Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver (Outstanding Performers of the Year Award), Laura Dern (Cinema Vanguard Award), Brad Pitt (Maltin Modern Master Award), along with the winners of the Virtuosos Award: Awkwafina, Taron Egerton, Cynthia Erivo, Beanie Feldstein, Aldis Hodge, George MacKay, Florence Pugh, and Taylor Russell.
Other notable events included...
The films were chosen by jury members Jason Baffa, Max Barbakow, Lisa Black, Alex Carter, Geoff Green, Paul Kurta, Perry Lang, Artie Schmidt, Rita Taggart, Diego Tinoco, John Williams, and Anthony and Arnette Zerbe.
Among those who received tributes and honors in their respective categories were Renée Zellweger (American Riviera Award), Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver (Outstanding Performers of the Year Award), Laura Dern (Cinema Vanguard Award), Brad Pitt (Maltin Modern Master Award), along with the winners of the Virtuosos Award: Awkwafina, Taron Egerton, Cynthia Erivo, Beanie Feldstein, Aldis Hodge, George MacKay, Florence Pugh, and Taylor Russell.
Other notable events included...
- 1/25/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Sbiff) announced on Saturday the winners of the 35th edition of the festival, which featured 47 world premieres and 71 U.S. premieres from 50 countries.
The festival’s top award, the audience choice award, went to Richard Hobert’s “The Birdcatcher’s Son.”
The winners were chosen by a jury consisting of Jason Baffa, Max Barbakow, Lisa Black, Alex Carter, Geoff Green, Paul Kurta, Perry Lang, Artie Schmidt, Rita Taggart, Diego Tinoco, John Williams, and Anthony & Arnette Zerbe.
“It’s been a wonderful 35 years celebrating international cinema as well as our local roots. We are grateful for all of the staff, volunteers, audiences and filmmakers that were able to join us at Sbiff to come together as a community to celebrate over 200 films – forge a sense of community and love that defies boundary,” Sbiff Executive Director Roger Durling.
In addition to the winners of the 35th festival,...
The festival’s top award, the audience choice award, went to Richard Hobert’s “The Birdcatcher’s Son.”
The winners were chosen by a jury consisting of Jason Baffa, Max Barbakow, Lisa Black, Alex Carter, Geoff Green, Paul Kurta, Perry Lang, Artie Schmidt, Rita Taggart, Diego Tinoco, John Williams, and Anthony & Arnette Zerbe.
“It’s been a wonderful 35 years celebrating international cinema as well as our local roots. We are grateful for all of the staff, volunteers, audiences and filmmakers that were able to join us at Sbiff to come together as a community to celebrate over 200 films – forge a sense of community and love that defies boundary,” Sbiff Executive Director Roger Durling.
In addition to the winners of the 35th festival,...
- 1/25/2020
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
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