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Almost There

An elderly "outsider" artist living in at-risk conditions befriends two filmmakers and causes controversy at his first major exhibition.

For many, Peter Anton’s house embodies an end-of-life nightmare: the utility companies long ago shut off the heat and electricity, the floorboards are rotting, and the detritus of a chaotic life is precariously stacked to the ceiling. But for the filmmakers Dan Rybicky and Aaron Wickenden, Anton’s home is a treasure trove, a startling collection of unseen and fascinating paintings, drawings, and notebooks, not to mention Anton himself, a character worthy of his own reality TV show. Though aging, infirm, cranky, and solitary, Anton also is funny and utterly resilient. The film’s remarkable journey follows a gifted artist through startling twists and turns. By its quietly satisfying ending, Almost There has provided enough human drama for a season of soap operas, plus insights into mental illness, aging in America, and the redemptive power of art.

This project was developed with the support of Avid and The Wexner Center for the Arts and has received partial funding from The Indiana Arts Commission, The Puffin Foundation, Columbia College Chicago and a Community Arts Assistance Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Filmmakers

Co-Producer

Tristan Hanson

Editor and Cinematography

Aaron Wickenden

Writer and Location Sound

Dan Rybicky

Composer

Joshua Abrams

Visual Effects Producer

Ross Thomas

Environmental Cinematography

David Schalliol

Post-Production Supervisor / Additional Editing

Nora Gully

Additional Editing

Wonjung Bae
Paul Hill

Editing Consultant

Kyle Henry

Additional Camera

Jennifer Brandel
Stephanie Dufford
Lesley Onstott
Dan Rybicky
Mason Thorne

Additional Sound Recordists

Scott Kaser
Mason Thorne
Cody Wallace

Still Photography

Dan Rybicky
Aaron Wickenden

Sound Effects Designer

Brendan Baker

Musicians

Joshua Abrams (Bass and Celeste)
Jason Adasiewicz (Vibraphone)
Michael Avery (Drums/Woodblocks/Percussion)
Jeff Kimmel (Clarinet)
Nick Mazarella (Alto Sax)
Jason Stein (Bass Clarinet)

Original Music Mix

Neil Strauch

Additional Music for Website

Dave Fischoff

Music Consultant

Linda Cohen

Assistant to Producers

Dain Evans

Post-Production Assistants

Hillary Bachelder
Ryan Gleeson

Post-Production Supervisor (Kartemquin)

Matt Lauterbach

Technical Supervisor

Jim Morrissette

Additional Motion Graphics

Jenna Caravello

Special Thanks

Steve James
Ruth Leitman
Jennifer Brandel
Patrick Thornton
Polly Noonan
Andrea Fritsch
Jennifer Lange
Alix and Margo Blair
Brad Lichtenstein
Anne Hastings

Director of Communications and Distribution (Kartemquin)

Tim Horsburgh

Director of Finance and Operations (Kartemquin)

Suzanne Niemoth

Kartemquin Films Staff

Yvonne Afable
Tamara Fouche
Maria Galent
Alison Hanold
Christine McAlonan
Cate Ryan
Alexander Stein
Beckie Stocchetti

Outreach and Engagement Consultant

Patrick Lile

Publicity photography

Kate Joyce

Additional Graphic Design

Rob Funderburk

Website Design and Support

David Handschuh
Tomoko Kanamitsu
Justin Stephenson
Megan Ross

Media

Awards and Distinctions

Southern Circuit Tour

Official Selection

2016

Arizona Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Big Eddy Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Big Muddy Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Bisbee Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Camden International Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

CIMM Fest

Official Selection

2015

Cleveland International Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Cork International Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Dallas VideoFest

Official Selection

2015

Driftless Film Festival

Official Selection

Opening Night Film

2015

EBS International Documentary Festival (EIDF)

Winner

Asian Premiere; Audience Award

2015

Gene Siskel Film Center "Stranger Than Fiction Documentary Premieres"

Official Selection

2015

Geneva Film Festival (IL)

Winner

Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award

2015

Houston Cinema Arts Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Indie Memphis Film Festival

Winner

Special Jury Award for "Visionary Storytelling"

2015

Indy Film Fest

Official Selection

2015

Louisville IF Film Fest

Official Selection

2015

Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival

Official Selection

2015

Midwest Film Festival "Best of Midwest" Awards

Nominee

Best of the Midwest Awards

2015

Midwest Film Festival "Best of Midwest" Awards

Winner

Best Editing

2015

Midwest Independent Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Milwaukee Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Minneapolist/St.Paul International Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Nantucket Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Santa Fe International Film Festival

Official Selection

2015

Sarasota Film Festival

Winner

Special Jury Prize

2015

Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival

Finalist

Jury Award

2015

Sheffield Doc/Fest

Official Selection

International Premiere

2015

True/False

Official Selection

2015

Wisconsin Film Fesitval

Official Selection

2015

Arclight Documentary Screening Series

Official Selection

Los Angeles Premiere

2014

DOC NYC

Official Selection

World Premiere

2014