Reel West Side Stories
American Independent Documentaries

February 28 - March 7, 2014

Reel West Side Stories: American Independent Documentaries a program of award-winning contemporary American documentaries offers a view of American society and culture as seen by independent documentary filmmakers. Presented by Pera Film in collaboration with US Consulate General, İstanbul the selected films have won recognition and awards including Academy Award nominations, a National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award, and a Special Jury Award at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam, among many other accolades. The documentaries explore diverse topics including civil rights, immigration, adoption, environmentalism and freedom of the press. Overall the selected seven films provide viewpoints on socially relevant issues, an understanding of the role of filmmaking as a catalyst for dialogue and for exploring solutions to contemporary problems.

Screenings can be seen with a discounted museum ticket (5 TL). No reservations taken. 

In collaboration

With the support
State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

February 28

18:00 Brooklyn Castle

21:00 Lives Worth Living

March 2

14:00 Mondays at Racine

Inocente

16:00 Off the Rez

18:00 Side By Side

March 5

16:00 Off the Rez

18:30 Deaf Jam

March 6

17:30 Lives Worth Living

19:00 Brooklyn Castle

March 7

18:00 Mondays at Racine

Inocente

19:30 Deaf Jam

21:00 Side By Side

Deaf Jam

Deaf Jam

Mondays at Racine

Mondays at Racine

Off the Rez

Off the Rez

Brooklyn Castle

Brooklyn Castle

Lives Worth Living

Lives Worth Living

Inocente

Inocente

Side By Side

Side By Side

Program Trailer

Reel West Side Stories
American Independent Documentaries

Reel West Side Stories: American Independent Documentaries a program of award-winning contemporary American documentaries offers a view of American society and culture as seen by independent documentary filmmakers.

Seaside Leisure

Seaside Leisure

Istanbul’s Seaside Leisure: Nostalgia from Sea Baths to Beaches exhibition brought together photographs, magazines, comics, objects, and books from various private and institutional collections, and told a nostalgic story while also addressing the change and socialization of the norms of how Istanbulites used their free time. Istanbul’s Seaside Leisure was a documentary testament of the radical transformations in the Republic’s lifestyle. 

Story of José Sancho’s Life

Story of José Sancho’s Life

He was born on April 18, 1935 in the province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. His family migrated to the capital, San José, where in 1952 he earned a bachelor’s degree from the Lyceum of Costa Rica.

Paula Rego in Istanbul!

Paula Rego in Istanbul!

We, by which I mean some of my classmates and I, knew about Paula Rego. I’ll have to admit, I didn’t know where Rego was from or even where in Europe Portugal was. I thought she was English. Let me tell you how I first heard the very un-English sounding name “Paula Rego”