When We Were Kings Screening

Photo courtesy of The Film Panel Notetaker From left, Meira Blaustein, Leon Gast, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, David Sonenberg

Tuesday, May 20th, marked the second screening of the Woodstock Film Festival’s co-presentation with the Stranger Than Fiction Documentary Film Series at the IFC Center in NYC.

When We Were Kings, the Academy Award winning film by director Leon Gast, has not been screened in public in New York State for close to 10 years. When We Were Kings documents the famous 1974 heavyweight championship between titleholder George Forman and underdog Muhammad Ali.

The audience that filled the screening room was mixed; some were in their twenties and had never seen the film, others were older and saw it years ago. Yet everyone was mesmerized by the charismatic Ali and his ability to charm and wow. Laughter filled the room in all the right places, with gasps at other times. And as the credits began to roll the applause thundered.

Filmmaker Leon Gast, executive producer David Sonenberg and editor Jeffrey Levy-Hinte got on stage for a Q&A that could have lasted forever. One of the first questions was to Leon, inquiring what took the film so long – the film was shot in 1974 but wasn’t finished until 1996. Leon explained some of the legal issues that kept the film in the can for all those years, and both he and David Sonenberg touched on some of the hurdles they had to overcome. Levy-Hinte discussed some of his thoughts about editing the concurrent music festival and the process of the dramatic build up towards the fight.

Photo courtesy of Mike Burke... Ciroc after-party... Bottom row: Geri Gast, Raphaela Neihausen, Barbara Kopple, Meira Blaustein... Tom row: Leon Gast, Thom Powers, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte

Following the Q&A everyone moved on to La Lanterna where complimentary vodka was served courtesy of Woodstock Film Festival sponsor Ciroc Vodka, was flowing and the food was delicious. The audience mingled late into the night with film folks such as Barbara Kopple, Godfrey Cheshire, Hugo Perez, Kit Carson, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, and of course Leon Gast, Meira Blaustein of the Woodstock Film Festival, and Thom Powers of Stranger Than Fiction.



All in all it was a great follow up to the Woodstock & Stranger Than Fiction screening of My Generation the previous Tuesday, and a great preview of the screening yet to come: The Agronomist by Jonathan Demme on Tuesday May 27th. Jonathan Demme, producer Peter Saraf, executive producer Daniel Wolff, and widow of the film subject Michelle Montas will be there for a fascinating Q&A. It will be a wonderful conclusion to a great series. We look forward to seeing you there!

For tickets, visit IFC Center