DOCPOINT May Just Be Our Favorite International Documentary Film Festival in the World!

February 6, 2023 in Helsinki, Finland with Director Annie Berman

Our International Premiere of The Faithful: The King, The Pope, The Princess at DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival was something special. Helmed by the brilliant Head of Programming filmmaker Inka Achté, and Executive Director Tape Riihimaki, and team, Docpoint Helsinki presented risk-taking films from around the world, a celebration of truly independent works of nonfiction after three long years without in-person togetherness. Throughout the festival, the chosen films showcased the many different ways to tell important stories and interpret the world through filmmaking, never avoiding difficult subjects or bold experiments. Each year, over one hundred of the best and most talked-about creative documentary films from all over the world are brought to screens in Helsinki, and we were honored to see The Faithful chosen as one of those films this year. Even more honoring was our nomination for the 2023 YLE Award for Best International Documentary Film–many thanks to all who made it possible.

It’s hard to describe the pure joy and delight of finally uniting with our closest collaborators, converging on Helsinki from Portugal, Ireland, England and Spain...to see our film projected in a beautiful theater with a thoughtful, inquisitive, gracious audience. It was a week of films, art, dinners, saunas, dancing, music and immense, gratifying joy.

Thank you Docpoint Helsinki for all of your hard work, generosity, and risk-taking programming. Thank you for bringing us all together. Thank you for introducing us to these brilliant films and filmmakers. And, thank you for showing us the beauty of Finland and its people. We will cherish these memories for a lifetime.

Together for the first time ever. Andrew Kirwan (sound designer) and fiance Diane from Dublin; Oliver David (post-producer) from London; Paulo Cunha Martins (colorist/restorationist) from Porto on the streets of downtown Helsinki. Photo by a very content Annie Berman (director).

Oliver David, Post Producer; Annie Berman, Director; Paulo Cunha Martins, Color/Restorationist at Amos Rex, Helsinki, Finland.

Such an honor to be nominated for Best International Documentary Film alongside these greats: All of our Heartbeats Are Connected Through Exploding Stars & Surround, Burial & Aphotic Zone, How Dare You Have Such a Rubbish Wish, Ladies Only & Virtual Voice, Manifesto, Myanmar Diaries, Périphérique Nord & True Bug, Rojek, The Last Chapter, The Pawnshop, and, While We Watched. 🏆

In the flesh. Breaking bread together at Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. Oliver David (post-producer) and Paulo Cunha Martins (color/restoration) hold The Faithful postcards. We made a real thing together across an ocean.

Our lovely Oliver shares The Faithful to his social media.

Annie’s POV from The Faithful’s Q&A at Docpoint Helsinki with team - Matt Mankins (collaborating producer), Paulo Cunha Martins (color / restoration), Oliver David (post-producer) - who flew in from Spain, Portugal, England, respectively.

Good morning, Helsinki! Could grow very accustomed to these scrumptious Scandinavian breakfast feasts overlooking the awakening city, in good company.

Finland is known for having the most well-developed education in the world. This was undoubtedly one of the most engaged, thoughtful and inquisitive audiences yet.

What a cool venue!

Left to right: Annie Berman (director), Paulo Cunha Martins (color/restoration), Matt Mankins (Collaborating producer), Oliver David (post-producer). Andrew Kirwan (sound design/mix) had yet to arrive.

Paulo Cunha Martins presents Annie with her very own cabbage bowl, direct from Portugal. 🇵🇹

And along with our memories, lives a patch of primeval forest protected in honor of The Faithful’s international premiere! 🌲🌲🌲

Leaving this country with full hearts, warmed souls, enlarged minds, and full bellies. 🇫🇮

International Premiere announced: Docpoint Helsinki Feb 2, 2023! Nominated for Best Feature!

We couldn’t be happier to announce that The Faithful will make its International Premiere at DocPoint Helsinki in International Competition, nominated for Best Documentary Film of the Year Award!!! The festival, after two years of lockdowns, returns with new Head of Programming Inka Achté who expressed commitment to a vision of “cinema that won’t leave you alone - films that demand you get together with friends afterwards to discuss, ponder and dissect...even to dance...We want to show titles which aren’t easy to define: ones which blur our notions of what documentary cinema can be and break the rules without an ethical or moral bargain.” Director Annie Berman in attendance with sound designer Andrew Kirwan, colorist Paulo Cunha Martins and producers Matt Mankins and Oliver David - none of whom have yet to see the film on the screen with an audience - so this will be a grand celebration.

Highlights from the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

Q&A moderated by the brilliant Thaïs Miller

Aunt Nora, filling the magnificent Castro Theater. Her spirit lives on.

Festival director and filmmaker, Jay Rosenblatt, whose films I’ve always adored.

Judith Helfand, director of Love and Stuff, a double header. It’s not everyday you share a screen with a mentor whose work has influenced and inspired your own.

Photojournalist Yoshi James! How magnificent to meet in person after serving on the Indie Memphis jury together!

Friend, photographer, and now local Jim Youll - thanks for the very warm welcome, and for the beautiful photos!

Thanks to the incredible directors of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival and Jewish Film Institute, Jay Rosenblatt and Lexi Leban, brilliant moderator Thaïs Miller, Board President Ralph Guggenheim for bringing THE FAITHFUL to the SFJFF, and for the royal treatment!

The Faithful's West Coast Tour begins October 8th, Tickets now Available!

THE FAITHFUL's West Coast Theatrical Release kicks off on October 8th, 2021 with a week's run on Los Angeles at Laemmle Theatres, with additional screenings at San Francisco's Roxie Theater and SIFF Seattle's Film Center.

Tickets and more information

Thank you Camden International Film Festival (CIFF)!

It was like a dream to bring The Faithful to CIFF - to watch an incredible lineup of films together. The festival directors, programmers, staff, and volunteers pulled off the seemingly impossible opening its doors, feeding our souls, while managing to keep conscientious attendees safe and healthy.

Q&A following The Faithful’s World Festival Premiere, moderated by Grace Remington. Sept 19, 2021. Journey’s End, Rockland, Maine.

They even converted this boat hanger on the harbor into a proper theater with DCP projection and 5.1 surround sound!

Thank you Ben Fowlie, Sean Flynn, Jeanelle Augustin, Milton Guillen, Camille Howard, Eynar Pineda, Anna Feder, Jean & Mark Patiky! It was the premiere we dreamed of - well worth the wait.

Pope sighting by CIFF filmmaker Melissa Gira Grant the day before our screening. CIFF. Maine.