“SummerDocs” To Feature “Maiden,” “Cold Case Hammarskjöld” And “Circus Of Books”

The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) will once again shine the spotlight on sensational documentaries when the SummerDocs series returns for its eleventh year. The 2019 SummerDocs iteration will feature Alex Holmes’ Maiden on June 29, Mads Brügger’s Cold Case Hammarskjöld on July 20, and Rachel Mason’s Circus of Books on August 24.

“We are proud of how the SummerDocs series has grown over the last 10 years,” reflected HIFF Co-Chairman and SummerDocs series presenter Alec Baldwin. “Bringing exciting documentaries, featuring powerful stories, to our festival community is now a significant part of our programming.”

After each viewing, Baldwin, along with HIFF Artistic Director David Nugent, will lead a conversation with the film’s director and additional special guests.

“With fascinating documentaries that showcase topics including a brave group of female sailors, a wild and intriguing investigation into a plane crash from over 50 years ago, and a straight couple’s story of owning a gay porn shop, our audience will once again get a peek at some of the best non- fiction work of the year,” added HIFF Artistic Director David Nugent.

Maiden tells the incredible story of Tracy Edwards, who at 24-years-old led the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race, a treacherous nine month yachting competition that spans 33,000 miles.

Cold Case Hammarskjöld explores the mysterious 1961 plane crash that killed United Nations secretary-general Dag Hammarskjöld and most of the crew. Filmmaker Mads Brügger, who is also a journalist, tackles this unsolved case, and as he attempts to unearth the truth makes a shocking discovery.

For Circus of Books director Rachel Mason, the story’s focus is extremely personal. The documentary revolves around Circus of Books, a gay porn shop that served as an LGBT life and culture epicenter in Los Angeles. Unbeknownst to many, the shop was owned by Rachel’s parents, Karen and Barry Mason: a straight couple with three children.

All SummerDocs screenings will take place at Guild Hall in East Hampton at 7 p.m.

Additionally, HIFF will team up with Southampton Arts Center to offer complimentary “Summer Outdoor” screenings throughout the summer.

The “Summer Outdoor” Screenings Schedule:

July 5 – Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
July 12 – Finding Nemo
July 19 – Singin’ in the Rain
July 26 – Get Out
August 2 – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
August 9 – Crazy Rich Asians
August 16 – Black Panther
August 23 – Bohemian Rhapsody
August 30 – Jaws

For more information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.