For years now, Coloradoan Ben Makinen has been working on his Colorado-centric documentary about the jazz scene in (mostly) Denver. The movie features a lot of jazz VIPs – about 50 local musicians and some of whom have moved on. Ben has entered the movie in several movie festivals and has won many awards. COMBO got a glimpse of the movie back in 2019 – before COVID hit – and we’ve all been wanting to watch it but it hasn’t hit the theaters yet. So Ben has made it available via private showings! Here’s how you can enjoy the show from your own home’s comfy seat!
Ben writes:
JAZZTOWN – THE MOVIE is here!
Jazztown, the 92 minute award-winning documentary, is now available to watch in full!
Simply make a donation via Paypal or Venmo and I will send you a private link to the film.
Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/benmakinen
Venmo: @Ben-Makinen
Upon receipt of your donation I will send you a link via email to JazzTown.
JazzTown took twelve years to make. I sold my drums and keyboards, music studio gear, my car, and finally my home to complete JazzTown. It is a work of passion that explores the lives, the music and the city that brings honor to Colorado.
Bmakin Film http://www.benmakinen.com
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Here’s more about the movie:
Colorado Filmmaker Ben Makinen Wins Awards at International Film Festivals
(Denver, Colorado, Jan. 31, 2022) – Ben Makinen, founder and director of Bmakin Film, has won multiple and prestigious awards for his 92 minute Colorado-centric music documentary JazzTown. (Best Director – San Diego Movie Awards; Best Picture – Rome Movie Awards; Best Best Soundtrack – New Orleans Second Line Film Festival; Award of Recognition – IndieFEST Film Awards; and the Critics’ Choice Award – World Film Carnival, Singapore among ten others). Jazztown has the distinction of being the only feature length jazz documentary made entirely by one person.
These awards are given for Ben Makinen’s stunning use of cinema to tell a universal story of the musicians’ struggle to remain relevant in a brutal marketplace that leaves many artists living in poverty while only a few are able to breath the rarified air of great success. Makinen says he is grateful for the honors:
“These awards are thrilling to receive as they help materialize my dream of directing the international spotlight onto Colorado’s marvelous musical heritage and its many contributions to jazz.”
JazzTown features interviews with, and performances, by Grammy winner Dianne Reeves, Ron Miles, Charles Burrell, Freddy Rodriguez, Sr., and US Senator John Hickenlooper. More than 50 Colorado musicians appear in JazzTown.
The IndieFEST Film Awards recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry.
In winning an IndieFEST Film Award, Ben Makinen and Bmakin Film joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including Liam Neeson as the narrator of Love Thy Nature, A Path Appears Documentary featuring George Clooney and Blake Lively, Radical Grace executive produced by Susan Sarandon, a searing expose Davids and Goliath by Peabody winner Leon Lee, and Touched with Fire starring Katie Holmes.
Rick Prickett, who chairs The IndieFEST Film Awards, had this to say about the latest winners, “The IndieFEST is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent.”
Makinen is self-distributing JazzTown by offering it to the public from his website for a donation of the viewer’s choice at https://www.benmakinen.com while he works through the negotiation process with offers from various distributors who have shown an interest.
Ben Makinen Contact & Resources
CELL +1 720-628-2267
Website http://www.benmakinen.com
Ben Makinen on IMDb https://m.imdb.com/name/nm12628079
JazzTown on IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15920898/
FB https://www.facebook.com/ben.makinen.90
Twitter @BmakinMusic
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/ben.makinen
FilmFreeway (Info on Makinen’s other award-winning projects currently on the film festival circuit.)
https://filmfreeway.com/BenMakinen
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Who Killed Jazz, my latest edgy short doc, has been selected as a Finalist in the prestigious LATCA – Los Angeles Theatrical Release Competition & Awards ! Thank you to the fabulous musicians and nightclubs who participated in the making of my films JazzTown and Who Killed Jazz. Gif features: Ayo Awosika band Nocturne with Tom Gershwin Scott Andrew MartinPatrick McDevitt Dru Heller and Max Wagner
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Filmmaker and Drummer Ben Makinen Wins Awards for Documentary JazzTown
By Jon Solomon, Westword | Ben Makinen, a professional Denver jazz drummer since the ’80s, started working on his documentary JazzTown a dozen years ago to honor his musical mentors and local jazz veterans. He wanted to document their stories and learn more about the older players’ pasts while showcasing younger players who are keeping jazz alive.
Multiple Colorado musicians are featured in JazzTown: Freddy Rodriguez Sr., who died from coronavirus two years ago; Ed Battle, who died in 2019; Charles Burrell, who turned 101 last year; Dianne Reeves; Art Lande; Gene Bass; Billy Wallace; Ellyn Rucker; Ron Miles and others. Senator John Hickenlooper even makes an appearance, speaking about booking jazz acts like Joe Bonner at his Wynkoop Brewing Company in the early ’90s.
JazzTown has won about fifteen awards, including for best director at the San Diego Movie Awards, best picture at the Rome Movie Awards, best soundtrack at the New Orleans Second Line Film Festival, Award of Recognition at the IndieFEST Film Awards and the Critics’ Choice Award at the World Film Carnival in Singapore. Makinen says JazzTown has the distinction of being the only feature-length jazz documentary made entirely by one person.
But his journey to complete the documentary over the past two years has been replete with disaster, setbacks and tragedies.
Read the rest of Jon’s story on Ben here:
https://www.westword.com/music/filmmaker-and-drummer-ben-makinen-wins-awards-for-documentary-jazztown-13372450?f
Jon Solomon writes about music and nightlife for Westword, where he’s been the Clubs Editor since 2006.
Want to Watch JazzTown, the Award-Winning Movie by Ben Makinen? Here’s How!
