Panelist:Robert Kenner
Director
Award winning director Robert Kenner has just completed production on Food, Inc. for Participant Media and River Road Entertainment. Food, Inc. premiered at the Toronto Film Festival this September to standing ovations and rave reviews.
"With a constituency limited to anyone who eats, Food, Inc. is a civil horror movie for the socially conscious, the nutritionally curious and the hungry Robert Kenner's doc Food, Inc. does for the supermarket what Jaws did for the beach"... Variety
"Food Inc. is more then a terrific movie- it is an important move."... Entertainment Weekly
Food, Inc. will go to the Berlin Festival in February 2009 and will open theatrically soon there after.
Prior to directing Food, Inc., Robert Kenner received the 2006 Peabody, the Emmy for exceptional merit in Non-Fiction Film-Making, and the Greirson (British Documentary) for his previous film Two Days in October. Two Days in October is characteristic of Kenners keen sense of authenticity and his passionate quest to present the truth. His brilliant interviews highlight a director who creates a compassionate atmosphere for his subjects to reveal their intimate stories. The Boston Globe review noted that, "If you could watch only one program to grasp what the Vietnam War did to the U.S....Two Days in October would be a great choice.... It is profound."
Robert's other notable work includes his co-filmmaking endeavor on the Martin Scorsese documentary, The Blues Series. His The Road to Memphis included interviews with the legendary B. B. King. Newsweek called it, "as fine a film ever made about American music" and "the unadulterated gem of the Scorsese Series."
His exceptional documentaries for The American Experience include, 'War Letters" reflecting on the experiences of American soldiers and their loved ones from the Revolutionary War to the Gulf War. War Letters weaves a seamless tapestry of archival footage, historical recreations and readings by Kevin Spacey, Joan Allen, Bill Paxton, Edward Norton and others.
Other films include his numerous specials for National Geographic. Robby's rich inspirational and emotional style drive Don't Say Goodbye, which was screened at the White House for President Clinton and Vice President Gore. It was the winner of The Cable Ace, Genesis, and The Emmy awards.
Robert's skills with real people brought him to the attention of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners where he directed four pieces for eBay. Robert's commercial for Hallmark is another illustration of his ability to integrate the ease of his interviews and touching remembrances into a story. The "Fran" spot was named to Adweek's list of "Best Spots of the year".
Recently Hewlett Packer hired Kenner, to tell the history of their company. Origin's won two Tele awards for Best Biography and Best Motivational film, as well as the Aegis Award.
