Special Programm  

A reflection on love, sacrifice, and the creative spirit, this candid New York tale explores the chaotic forty year marriage of famed boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and artist Noriko Shinohara, who met in New York City in the late 1960’s and have been living and working there since. The film depicts Noriko’s struggle to emerge from the shadow of her over-bearing husband and blossom as an independent artist. Blending archival material and the artists’ illustrations, the film shifts between present-day vérité footage and a stylized version of the past.  

Awards

Academy Awards the Oscar – Best Feature Documentary Nomination (2014)
Sundance Film Festival – Best Directing Award (2013)
London Film Festival – Special Mention (2013)

Zachary Heinzerling  

Director and cinematographer Zachary Heinzerling graduated from University of Texas-Austin with a degree in philosophy, later moved to Brooklyn, New York. He has worked on several feature-length films for HBO, including three Emmy Award-winning documentaries as a field producer and camera operator. Cutie and the Boxer is his feature film debut.