In the footsteps of cult singer Karen Dalton, A Bright Light – Karen And The Process takes us on a frantic and mesmerazing road trip across the United States.
In search of one of the sixties’ most astonishing voices, adulated by her peers, but unknown from the general public, A Bright Light is a documentary made of music and art that questions the creative process.
On a wild and enchanted journey from Colorado to Woodstock, three women search for this once upon a time muse. Along the way, they encounter those who knew her as well as those whom she still haunts and influences today.
The film draws the portrait of this exceptional artist, furiously free, who refused the system and its compromises. Through this iconic figure, we follow the quest of a certain freedom of life and expression and an independence for better or worse.
SCREENINGS & AWARDS
2018 World Premiere: Visions du Réel – Burning Lights Competition
2018 Hof International Film Festival
2018 REEL MUSIC 36, Portland (North American Premiere)
2019 Solothurn Film Festival
2019 F.A.M.E – Festival international de films sur la musique, Paris
2019 DOXA – Documentary Film Festival, Vancouver
2019 IndieLisboa, International Film Festival, Lisbon
2019 Krakow Film Festival – DocFilmMusic competition
2019 Encounters – South African Intl Documentary Festival, Cape Town & Johannesburg (South African Premiere)
2019 Chicago Underground Film Festival
2020 Dock of the Bay 2020, San Sebastián Music Documentary Film Festival
2020 Main IFF
2020 DOKfest Belgrade
2020 FIFA Montreal
2020 Musical Ecran, Bordeaux
AWARDS
- Best Documentary Award at Dock of the Bay, San Sebastián Music Documentary Film Festival, 2020
PRESS
Reviews: Cineuropa (EN), Filmexplorer(EN), Le journal Gauchebdo (FR), WOMEX Interview (EN)
Karen Dalton is reborn through Antille’s artistic world. A misterious and touching portrait of one of the most iconic artists in the history of music.
Cineuropa
Karen Dalton’s artistry is undeniable, but her life was left inexplicable; she died a lonely, diseased woman in a trailer. But this thoughtful film dedication, along with those who love and promote her legacy, allow the vibration of her voice and spirit to move us eternally; it also shows us that the role of women in the arts has changed for the better.
FilmExplorer
DIRECTORS’S BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY
Born in 1972 in Lausanne, Emmanuelle Antille studied at the ESAV in Geneva and at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. Since 1995, she has developed her artistic practice as a video artist and film director.
Emmanuelle Antille has received numerous awards and recognitions: three Swiss Art Awards, the Kiefer-Hablitzel Prize, the Review film contest Migros Culture, Residencies in Berlin and in Paris, the Prix Découverte at the Festival de Namur, among others.
Her work has been presented at the Kunstverein in Frankfurt, the Renaissance Society in Chicago, the National Gallery in Reykjavik, the CCA in Glasgow, the Toyko Wonder Site in Tokyo, the De Appel in Amsterdam, the Migros Museum in Zurich, Art Unlimited in Basel, the Jeu de Paume and the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Her films have been selected in numerous festivals.
In 2003 Emmanuelle Antille represented Switzerland at the 50th Venice Biennale in the national pavilion. In 2012, she directed her second feature film, entitled AVANTI with Hanna Schygulla and Miou-Miou.
A Bright Light – Karen and the Process is her first feature-length documentary.
PRODUCER’S BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY
Luc Peter, Born in 1963. Studied Political Science at the Geneva University (Bachelor in 1986 and Master in 1989). Cinema studies at the Ecole Cantonale d’Art in Lausanne (1994). Directed numerous documentary features, amongst which CHRISTIAN MARCLAY (2000), LA RIBOT DISTINGUIDA (2004), MAGIC RADIO (2007), BROKEN LAND (2014), DREAMERS (2021) as well as documentaries for TV shows. Since 2001, producer at Intermezzo Films.
PRODUCER:
Luc Peter
luc@intermezzofilms.ch
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Intermezzo Films
28 rue de Bâle 1201 Genève / 022 741 47 47 info@intermezzofilms.ch
http://intermezzofilms.ch/
Rubis Films
Chemin de Collonge
1820 Territet, Switzerland
tel: +41/78/614 07 96
emmanuelle.antille@gmail.com
CREDITS
Cast Billy Mitchel, Dan Hankin, Chuck Ogsbury, Harry Tuft, Dick Weissman, Alexandra Ogsbury, Susan Hoover, Jean-Marc Butty, Ben Schenck, Colin Gagon, Jessica Radcliffe, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Joe Loop, Jana Hunter, Nathaniel Nelson, Carl Baron, Larkin Grimm, Nicholas Hill and Peter Walker
Direction Emmanuelle Antille
Image Carmen Jaquier
Sound Malika Pellicoli
Editing Laurence Vaes, Emmanuelle Antille, Emilie Morier
Music Karen Dalton, Diane Cluck, Lower Dens, Cheyenne, Philippe Henchoz, Robot Kimbap, Djely Mamou Kouyaté, Delia Meshlir, Christian Pahud and Richard Tucker
Sound editing Corinne Dubien
Sound mixing Franco Piscopo, Alea Jacta Post-production
Color grading Robin Erard, Rougegorge Postproduction
Assistant director Malika Pellicioli
Music coordinator Fabrice Bernard
Music assistants Eline Müller, Dunja Stanic Girod
Music rights negociator Eric Mermod – myMusicRights
Subtitles Tongues United
Webdesigner and Webmaster Jeff Gaudinet, Raphaël Arbuz
Executive producer Michael Lang
Production Rubis Films, Emmanuelle Antille / Intermezzo Films, Luc Peter
Production assistants Katia Monla Guisolan, Elodie Bieri, Karla Kolder
Accounting Annick Kammacher