Documentary+ Acquires Shortform Photography Doc ‘Eat Flowers’ – Film News in Brief

Nonfiction streaming platform Documentary+ has acquired River Finlay’s documentary short “Eat Flowers.” The Oscar-qualified film will debut on major streamers and the Documentary+ Fast channel on Wednesday.

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According to an official logline, “Eat Flowers” picks up in 2017 “as photographer Cig Harvey’s best friend Mary is diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. When forced to isolate during her treatment, she asks Cig to send her photographs. Everyday Cig sets out to bring color and life to Mary through her camera. Everyday Mary asks for more. ‘Eat Flowers’ brings us into the vibrant worlds that Cig creates for her.”

“I’m incredibly excited to partner with Documentary+ in bringing this vibrant story to audiences, showcasing the beauty of life, the ache of loss and the reminder to live,” said Finlay.

“We are thrilled to bring ‘Eat Flowers’ to audiences through our wide-reaching distribution channels,” added Justin Lacob, head of documentary for Documentary+. “River Finlay has crafted an incredibly moving and inspiring portrait of resilience and hope that aligns perfectly with our mission of telling compelling and engaging stories for a global audience.”

Harvey serves as producer as well as star. With the acquisition, Bryn Mooser and Lacob join as executive producers alongside Allison Klayman.

Watch the trailer below.

U.S. Department of State’s American Film Showcase to Screen Documentaries in More Than 60 Countries

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The U.S. Department of State has set the films for its American Film Showcase, featuring contemporary American documentaries that will be screened year-round in over 60 countries; all organized by U.S. embassies.

The goal of the program is to showcase American documentaries to foreign audiences, expanding their global access locally. “AFS’s screening program is a global film festival offering international audiences a nuanced view of American life and creating space for cross-cultural dialogue,” said Rachel Gandin Mark, AFS Program Director. “We are incredibly proud of this year’s wide-ranging collection of American films and can’t wait to share these stories with new audiences.”

The lineup features many 2024 Oscar contenders as well as the Academy Award winner for documentary short, “The Last Repair Shop.” The other nominated features are “Audible” and “The Barber of Little Rock.”

“Independent documentary filmmakers dream of reaching a global audience,” said Ben Proudfoot, Oscar award-winning director of “The Last Repair Shop.” “We can tell you firsthand there is nothing more exciting than seeing our films spark lively conversations in countries like Yemen, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Colombia. We are so grateful to American Film Showcase and the U.S. State Department and are deeply honored to be joining this incredible cadre of documentary storytellers.”

The project is possible through a series of collaborations with Amazon, L.A Times Short Docs, Magnolia Pictures, Netflix, The New Yorker, PBS, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Since 2012, AFS has produced over 5,000 screenings in 135 countries, delivering content to more than half a million people.

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