SIDETRACK FILMS

Interview: Jeff Zimbalist

Award-winning doc Favela Rising tells the story of Afro Reggae, a Brazilian band/community group born out of Rio's violent, drug-running Vigario Geral favela in the early 1990s. Led by Anderson Sa, Afro Reggae aim to capture control of the favela back from the drug traffickers through inspiring local kids to take up music rather than guns. – read more

From Fact Magazine – Posted on April 29 2006

Favela Rising

Inspirational Documentary Reveals Hope for Rio's Slums

Rio de Janeiro, arguably one of the world's most spectacular metropoli, is also famously beset with one of humanity's less forgiving social environs, the favela. Although in the West, the term has become part of household vocabulary thanks to Fernando Meirelles' spine-chilling City Of God, how life truly operates in Brazil's slums remains an enigma to most of us. The common perception of such areas - which, as in the case of Rio, have grown in no small measure atop the city's towering mountains - is that of a violent drug-trade and the continuous and gritty war of attrition between its benefactors and the police. And this would not be entirely inaccurate. – read more

From The Epoch Times – Posted on March 12 2006

Favela Rising

Review: Favela Rising

This arresting documentary tells of the rise of AfroReggae, a Brazilian band with a conscience born of violence and drug-running in the Rio favela of Vigario Geral in the early '90s. Anderson Sa, the band's founder and the focus of this film, dreamt of being 'a revolutionary druglord' when he was a kid, which speaks volumes about his neighbourhood. As this fast-paced but well-informed film tells us, 3,937 minors died as a result of violence in the city between 1987 and 2001, and the directors of 'Favela Rising' give us a taste of the situation by presenting ample TV footage of bodies, blood baths, drug stashes and firearms (usually an ugly combination of all four). But music and performance take centre-stage too, and Anderson himself offers a story of hope; a former drug dealer, he's now a community leader and a local icon. – read more

From Time Out London – Posted on March 07 2006

KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON

Nirvana documentary 'brings Kurt to life'

A new Nirvana documentary is in the making - one which will be narrated by Kurt Cobain himself. Film makers were in the singer's home town of Aberdeen, Washington recently to start work on a documentary about Cobain. However in a unique twist the singer himself will narrate the film, with producers using more than 25 hours of interview tapes recorded by journalist Michael Azerrad between December 1992 and March 1993. – read more

From NME – Posted on December 28 2005

Favela Rising

Eye on the Oscars: Documentaries

Directors: Jeff Zimbalist, Matt Mochary

Topic: Documents and celebrates work of Anderson Sa, a former drug trafficker, who uses music to unite the people of his rundown favela (Portuguese for "squatter settlement") in Rio de Janeiro. – read more

From Variety – Posted on December 08 2005

KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON

Kurt Cobain himself narrates a new documentary film

A crew of documentary filmmakers from Los Angeles has been in Aberdeen this week, shooting a documentary on the life of the late Kurt Cobain - one that will be narrated by Cobain himself. The producers are drawing on taped interviews the "Nirvana" frontman did with Michael Azerrad, author of the Nirvana biography "Come As You Are." – read more

From The Daily World – Posted on November 17 2005

				Favela Rising Interview: Jeff Zimbalist Award-winning doc Favela Rising tells the story of Afro Reggae, a Brazilian band/community group born out of Rio's violent, drug-running Vigario Geral favela in the early 1990s. Led by Anderson Sa, Afro Reggae aim to capture control of the favela back from the drug traffickers through inspiring local kids to take up music rather than guns. – read more From Fact Magazine – Posted on April 29 2006

				Favela Rising Inspirational Documentary Reveals Hope for Rio's Slums Rio de Janeiro, arguably one of the world's most spectacular metropoli, is also famously beset with one of humanity's less forgiving social environs, the favela. Although in the West, the term has become part of household vocabulary thanks to Fernando Meirelles' spine-chilling City Of God, how life truly operates in Brazil's slums remains an enigma to most of us. The common perception of such areas - which, as in the case of Rio, have grown in no small measure atop the city's towering mountains - is that of a violent drug-trade and the continuous and gritty war of attrition between its benefactors and the police. And this would not be entirely inaccurate. – read more From The Epoch Times – Posted on March 12 2006

				Favela Rising Review: Favela Rising This arresting documentary tells of the rise of AfroReggae, a Brazilian band with a conscience born of violence and drug-running in the Rio favela of Vigario Geral in the early '90s. Anderson Sa, the band's founder and the focus of this film, dreamt of being 'a revolutionary druglord' when he was a kid, which speaks volumes about his neighbourhood. As this fast-paced but well-informed film tells us, 3,937 minors died as a result of violence in the city between 1987 and 2001, and the directors of 'Favela Rising' give us a taste of the situation by presenting ample TV footage of bodies, blood baths, drug stashes and firearms (usually an ugly combination of all four). But music and performance take centre-stage too, and Anderson himself offers a story of hope; a former drug dealer, he's now a community leader and a local icon. – read more From Time Out London – Posted on March 07 2006

				KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON Nirvana documentary 'brings Kurt to life' A new Nirvana documentary is in the making - one which will be narrated by Kurt Cobain himself. Film makers were in the singer's home town of Aberdeen, Washington recently to start work on a documentary about Cobain. However in a unique twist the singer himself will narrate the film, with producers using more than 25 hours of interview tapes recorded by journalist Michael Azerrad between December 1992 and March 1993. – read more From NME – Posted on December 28 2005

				Favela Rising Eye on the Oscars: Documentaries Directors: Jeff Zimbalist, Matt Mochary Topic: Documents and celebrates work of Anderson Sa, a former drug trafficker, who uses music to unite the people of his rundown favela (Portuguese for "squatter settlement") in Rio de Janeiro. – read more From Variety – Posted on December 08 2005

				KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON Kurt Cobain himself narrates a new documentary film A crew of documentary filmmakers from Los Angeles has been in Aberdeen this week, shooting a documentary on the life of the late Kurt Cobain - one that will be narrated by Cobain himself. The producers are drawing on taped interviews the "Nirvana" frontman did with Michael Azerrad, author of the Nirvana biography "Come As You Are." – read more From The Daily World – Posted on November 17 2005