OK, in the interest of full disclosure let me state categorically: I think banjo genius Béla Fleck is the tops.¹ That said, my mind still would have been blown by Throw Down Your Heart even if it wasn’t Bela Fleck.²

Filmmaker Sascha Paladino has created a delight of a film as he joins his brother Fleck on a trip to Africa to explore the roots of the banjo.³ Their multi-country trip brings Fleck together with many talented musicians and remarkable collaborations result. The energy of the musicians is infectious, the music joyous to behold, and Paladino gives you the experience of being right in the mix.

Following the screening, the audience got an opportunity to hear Fleck play, joined by Cheick Hamala Diabaté, a terrific n’goni player and star in his own right (see photo below). For the second night in a row, SILVERDOCS hits it out of the park.⁴

1. I’m not exaggerating. I had the guy sign my mandolin today. How pathetically fanboy is that?
2. That it is Béla Fleck? Awesome! See footnote one re: my pathetic-ness.
3. I had a chance to hear the two speak at length earlier in the day about the process of making the film, and hopefully I will get a chance to write up those comments soon.
4. Look! A sports analogy! How did that happen? Answer: it’s a baseball analogy. Even I know from baseball.

In my interview with Sky Sitney, she remarked that SILVERDOCS “tries to expand the experience beyond just on-screen.” To that end, there are a number of special events, talks, and social events scheduled during the 8-day festival.

Music plays a special role at SILVERDOCS, as the festival has an award track geared specifically for films about music. So, several of the films have musicians performing in conjunction with a screening. Top on my list is banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, who will be performing with Cheick Hamala Diabaté on Tuesday following the showing of “Throw Down Your Heart,” a film that explores the African origin of the banjo.

In addition, I will be excited to see Jason Crigler, the musician who is the subject of the film “Life. Support. Music.” He will perform Saturday night, following a showing of the film, which documents his struggle to survive following a massive cerebral hemorrhage in 2004.

Many of the films are followed by panel discussions or Q&A sessions with the filmmaker and film subjects. Particularly notable: NPR correspondent Tom Gjelten moderates a panel that includes, inter alia, director Michael Christoffersen and former Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe of NATO General Wesley Clark, following a showing of “Milosevic on Trial” on Tuesday.

As we noted earlier, SILVERDOCS aspires to be an open and intimate festival, so remember that the panels aren’t the only place to meet and interact with mediamakers and other industry folks. Among those who will be in Silver Spring next week are legendary filmmaker Spike Lee, Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney; NPR’s Neal Conan; Dr. James Orbinski, the Past President of Médecins Sans Frontières; and Sundance award-winning cinematographer and director Ellen Kuras.

And finally, if I can’t stand being inside for one more minute, there are two outside events that should be a lot of fun. Both take place towards the end of the week. Friday night will feature an outdoor screening of a 1964 film by Direct Cinema maestros David and Albert Maysles. “What’s Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A.” manages to capture an intimate portrait of the Beatles just before they blew up to international mega-stardom.

Then on Saturday comes an exhibition soccer match by the U.S. Homeless World Cup Team following the afternoon screening of the film “Kicking It,” which tells the story of six teams at the 2006 Homeless World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.

Whew. I’d better rest up.

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As always, the disclaimer applies: This is a festival to which I have a substantial connection. I have volunteered for the past two years and sat on this year’s Selection Committee. I wrote for the festival catalog and will likely be introducing some of the filmmakers and subjects at the festival. Feel free to adjust for my bias. My blog reportage and opinions, however, do not represent the views of AFI or the SILVERDOCS festival, the Selection Committee, or of any of their staff. No one should construe anything expressed on this site as being endorsed or supported by AFI, SILVERDOCS or anybody other than me.