Archive of films My Kid Could Paint That / My Kid Could Paint That

USA
2006, 83 min

Section: Documentary Films - Competition
Year: 2007

A documentary about 4-year-old Maria Olmstead, whose paintings are considered the height of abstract expressionism and are compared with the works of Kandinsky and Pollock. The film finds a fascinating slant on society’s obsession with “infant prodigies” and takes example from the little artist to address issues relating to the true essence of art.

Synopsis

A bright new star going by the name of Maria Olmstead has recently appeared on the fine-art firmament. Her paintings are considered the height of abstract expressionism and are compared with the works of Kandinsky, Jackson Pollock and Picasso himself. Renowned connoisseurs of fine art collect her works, and her private views are attended by dozens of journalists and TV crews. Yet Maria Olmstead is only four years old! Her parents resolutely reject the idea of Maria being a typical infant prodigy; to them, she’s just an ordinary little girl who loves painting. They have no problems with the huge international media attention her talent has generated, until the creators of the popular TV show 60 Minutes start insisting that Maria’s father must be playing a heavy-handed role in the production of Maria’s paintings. The film finds a fascinating slant on the way in which society is obsessed with “infant prodigies” and, taking example from this exceedingly young artist, addresses the issues of the true essence of art.

About the director

Amir Bar-Lev established himself on the film circuit with his feature debut Fighter (1999), screened in the documentary film competition at the KVIFF in 2000. This piece won six international awards and was classed as one of the best documentaries of 2001 by the prestigious magazines Newsweek, Rolling Stone and Village Voice. Since that time he has made seven award-winning documentary films, e.g. New Orleans Furlough and Chris Donahoe: Independent Filmmaker. Bar-Lev has also produced a series of television programmes for VH1, the Sundance Channel, Spike TV, MTV and the Weather Channel. He is currently also working on the documentary Kid Protocol.

Contacts

Sony Pictures Releasing International
10202 West Washington Boulevard, 90232 - 3195, Culver City
United States of America
Tel: +1 310 244 4528
Fax: +1 323 876 1508
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.sonypictures.com

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About the film

Color, 35 mm
European premiere

Section:	Documentary Films - Competition

Director:	Amir Bar-Lev
Dir. of Photography:	Matt Boyd, Nelson Hume, Bill Turnley
Music:	Eric Offin
Editor:	John Walter, Michael Levine
Producer:	John Battsek
Production:	Passion Pictures
Contact:	Sony Pictures Releasing International

Guests

Amir Bar-Lev

Film Director, Film Director

John Battsek

Producer