The 13th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is set to start this Thursday, April 8th in downtown Durham. During the course of the four day fest, over 100 documentary feature and short films will be screened, with award winning films announced on Sunday, April 11th. Most of the programs will screen in the Carolina Theatre, though the festival also holds screenings in the Durham Marriott and the Durham Arts Council as well.

At first glance, the impressive grid of films can be a bit overwhelming, and it can be difficult to decide which programs to attend, especially if you are only looking to purchase tickets to a few of the events. To that end, New Raleigh has consulted with Full Frame’s Director of Progamming, Sadie Tillery, and the Director of Production, Ted Mott, to bring you some of the highlights of the festival. To follow are some the staff picks for must-see films, though all the films screening at the festival are sure to be high quality and thought provoking pieces of documentary art.

RACING DREAMS – Thursday / Fletcher Hall / 10 am
(Director: Marshall Curry)

Racing Dreams is a free youth program, and the latest film from festival alum Marshall Curry (Street Fight, 2005). Through the course of the film, viewers meet three pre-teens from different regions and circumstances sharing a common goal: to win a World Karting Championship. Curry, along with all three film subjects, Annabeth Barnes, Josh Hobson, and Brandon Warren, will be present for a conversation following the screening.

THE THORN IN THE HEART – Thursday / Fletcher Hall / 9:50 pm
(Director: Michel Gondry)

If you loved director Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Be Kind Rewind, don’t miss the endlessly inventive filmmaker’s personal documentary. On the heels of its theatrical opening in New York and Los Angeles, Full Frame is proud to share his non-fiction chronicle of the teaching career of his beloved Aunt Suzette and her turbulent relationship with her son, Gondry’s cousin, Jean-Yves.

CENTER FRAME - DO IT AGAIN – Friday / Fletcher Hall / 8:00 pm
(Director: Robert Patton-Spruill)

Reporter Geoff Edgers, who once lived in Raleigh and wrote for the N&O, sets out to reunite The Kinks, collecting spontaneous performances by some of rock’s royalty along the way. The Center Frame screening will feature a musical performance by The Kinksmen with guest artists Mitch Easter, Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey, along with a Q&A with director Robert Patton-Spruill and producer Geoff Edgers.

CENTER FRAME - AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE – Saturday / Fletcher Hall / 7:20 pm
(Director: Steven Soderbergh)

Steven Soderbergh honors Spalding Gray’s literally storied career with a fitting tribute comprised of performance excerpts and interviews. While Soderbergh will not be in attendance, Full Frame welcomes Kathleen Russo, Spalding’s widow and the film’s producer, along with Susan Littenberg, the film’s editor who pored over an immense collection of archival footage, for a Q&A after the screening moderated by filmmaker Ted Bogosian (50/50, The Press Secretary).

STRANGE POWERS: STEPHIN MERRITT AND THE MAGNETIC FIELDS – Saturday / Fletcher Hall / 10:20 pm
(Directors: Kerthy Fix, Gail O’Hara)

A captivating look at one of America’s greatest (and most reclusive) songwriters. If you don’t already have 69 Love Songs on your iPod, you will; the film does the music proud. The program will feature an introduction by former Magnetic Fields label Merge Records and a Q&A with filmmakers Kerthy Fix and Gail O’Hara.

THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS
(Directors: Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith)

Daniel Ellsberg lived two lives, serving as an architect of the Vietnam War while also protesting it. Nominated for a 2010 Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature, this film masterfully depicts Ellsberg’s fateful historic decision to release the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times. The film will be introduced by Martin Garbus, Ellsberg’s attorney; director Rick Goldsmith will participate in a Q&A following the screening.

Advance individual tickets for festival screenings went on sale April 1st and will continue to be available online until April 7th or until the allotted amount of tickets are sold out. After that, individual tickets can be bought during the festival at the box office. Tickets are $10 for film screenings and panels, and $15 for premier events; a $1 fee will be added for credit card purchases. A record breaking amount of tickets were sold on the first day they were available, so it’s advisable to get your tickets soon, if you want to avoid lines at the box office.

In addition to the ticketed events, Full Frame will offer two free outdoor screenings at Durham Central Park Friday and Saturday night at 8:00pm, with no tickets required. Full Frame’s traditional BBQ fare and live music will be available on the plaza Sunday afternoon. For more information about the festival, visit the Full Frame website.