Oscar-Nominated Documentary Finished at Goldcrest

Continuing its support for important documentary films, Goldcrest Post provided color grading services for The ABCs of Book Banning, currently nominated for an Academy Award in the category Documentary Short. Produced and directed by Sheila Nevins for MTV Documentary Films, the film looks at the disturbing trend of banning books in schools. 

In 2022, the United State saw the highest number of attempted books bans in more than two decades. Most of those books are intended for young people and feature LGBTQ+ voices and people of color. Nevins’ film examines the human toll of depriving children of their right to read and learn about a complex world. It includes interviews with children and authors whose books have been banned. 

Filippo Piscopo was the cinematographer and Gladys Mae Murphy was the editor. Goldcrest’s Evan Anthony performed final grading.

Goldcrest also provided finishing services for two other films that were shortlisted for this year’s Oscar for Documentary Short. Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games offers an illuminating look at the influence that hand games played by Black girls has had on the American creative landscape. From ESPN, the film is directed by Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson, and produced by Michele Stephenson. Goldcrest Post provided color grading and editorial conforming, Ken Sirulnick, colorist; Jordan Thompson-DeSon, conform artist.

If Dreams Were Lightning: Rural Healthcare Crisis, which premiered January 10 on PBS, examines the healthcare crisis in rural America where hospitals are closing at an alarming rage. Oscar and Emmy-nominated director Ramin Bahrani visits Appalachia, where American communities are left with limited or no access to healthcare. Goldcrest Post provided color grading and editorial conforming, Jane Tolmachyov, colorist; Twain Richardson, conform artist.