$15 General Admission, $12 Member, $7 child age 14 or younger
Doors Open for admissions 30 min. prior to screening Buy tickets at Film Center or online now
Director Sara Taksler will be joining us via Skype after the film for an interview led by Kate Davis
TICKLING GIANTS tells the story of Dr. Bassem Youssef, the “Egyptian Jon Stewart”, who decides to leave his job as a heart surgeon and become a late-night comedian. The movie is about how he finds creative, non-violent ways to protect free speech and fight a president who abuses his power.
Special Guest: Director Sara Taksler
A Senior Producer at The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Taksler has pitched stories and jokes, and researched footage since 2005. Taksler directed and produced the feature documentary, TWISTED: A Balloonamentary, a hilarious and heartwarming look at the world’s premier balloon-twisting convention, with film partner Naomi Greenfield. After debuting at South by Southwest, Hollywood Reporter called the film “A thoroughly winning feature” and Variety hailed it as “A feel good, irony-free celebration”. Taksler’s first film, Stop the Ignorance: The Beauty That Is New Jersey, was a tribute to her home state. Her latest documentary, Tickling Giants, will have its world premiere at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Taksler can talk backwards and has a remarkable fake sneeze. Sara’s favorite way of Tickling Giants: Using comedy to find cathartic ways to process major bummers.
Special Guest: Kate Davis
Kate Davis has made acclaimed documentaries for HBO, BBC, PBS, A&E Networks, Court TV and The History Channel. An AMPAS member, her film SOUTHERN COMFORT won dozens of awards including The Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and the Berlin Film Fest Special Jury Award. She directed THE CHESHIRE MURDERS, THE NEWBURGH STING (Peabody Award), and JOCKEY (Emmy, Best Direction), and also produced/co-directed STONEWALL UPRISING (Peabody Award) for American Experience. She is currently co-directing BORN INTO THE GIG and a film on the life and death of Sandra Bland.
“There’s a lot to laugh at, and to learn from, in “Tickling Giants,” a documentary that starts off by telling the story of one man and ends up speaking volumes about satire, freedom of expression and political pressure.” -Ken Jaworoski, New York Times
“Tickling Giants provides a comprehensive examination of Youssef’s career highs and lows while providing a vivid personal portrait of its subject whose cheerfulness and resolve began to wither in the face of constant threats to himself and his family.” -Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
