"Art for Everybody" Premieres Opening Night
Miranda Yousef '98 Has Directorial Debut in Birmingham
Accomplished editor Miranda Yousef’s directorial debut is an insightful documentary that peels back the layers of Thomas Kinkade’s facade, delivering a portrait of a complex man divided by the same forces that continue to pull us apart as a nation. It will be shown on Opening Night of the 25th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival at the historic Alabama Theater in Birmingham.
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You’ve seen his cozy cottages, idyllic gardens, and welcoming village streets on everything from canvas to commemorative plates. Both celebrated and disparaged for his kitschy signature settings, the “Painter of Light” Thomas Kinkade rocketed to popularity in the ‘90s by marketing himself to American evangelicals and pitting himself against the elite art establishment. Yet beneath the pristine public persona were demons that would drive him to alcoholism, scandal, and death from an overdose in 2012. After his passing, Kinkade’s daughters uncovered a trove of unseen, unexpectedly dark paintings, a discovery that launched an investigation into their father’s true personality. Through the voices of skeptical critics, adoring fans, and Kinkade’s closest friends and family, ART FOR EVERYBODY digs deep into Kinkade’s life and work to elucidate the real man behind the persona.
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