By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The maverick B-movie outfit invades one festival in a movie now poised for unveiling at another.
OCCUPY CANNES will have its world premiere on Thursday, July 31 at the Fantasia International Film Festival. Directed by Lily-Hayes Kaufman and shot by Charlotte Kaufman, both daughters of Troma founder/filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman, the documentary includes Roger and Julie Corman among its executive producers. Fantasia’s description: “The moving, hilarious, and inspirational documentary OCCUPY CANNES follows legendary filmmaker (and creator of THE TOXIC AVENGER) Lloyd Kaufman–recipient of this year’s inaugural Indie Maverick Award at Fantasia–leading the Troma Team’s fight to sustain independent art amidst an industry that increasingly removes any space for outsiders. Known for deliriously boundary-pushing works of maximalist insanity, NYC-based Troma Entertainment may be the last surviving truly independent film studio. They’re also at risk of going extinct. After 40 years of selling films at Cannes, OCCUPY CANNES follows them on what could be their final trip, as their notoriously crazy publicity stunts are consistently shut down by the authorities while they encounter endless obstacles in spaces they once had a place at. The film is presented through the lenses of Kaufman’s daughters, director Lily-Hayes and director of photography Charlotte, whose unparalleled access to Troma frees them to pose questions that no other filmmakers could: Does Kaufman’s defiant stance attract buyers or ostracize Troma from the industry’s inner circle? Can Troma survive in an ever-shifting and consolidating entertainment industry? Can any independent artist survive?”
