Heið­urs­gesta­spjall: Albert Maysles

Albert Maysles is one of the most famous documentary filmmakers of our time and, together with his brother and main collaborator David Maysles, has had a huge impact on the profession. The Maysles brothers became early pioneers of "Cinéma vérité" documentary filmmaking, in which the filmmaker approaches his subject without any script and has minimal interference - sometimes called "fly on the wall" filmmaking.

In addition to their original approach to their subjects, the Maysles brothers quickly became known for their unusual portrayals of many of the most famous individuals of the 20th century. These include Marlon Brando, Truman Capote, Orson Welles, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Albert and David's long-standing relationship with artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, including their extensive outdoor art projects, earned the brothers an Oscar nomination in 1974.

Three of the Maysles brothers' best-known documentaries will be screened at Skjaldborg. They are Salesman (1968), Gimme Shelter (1970) and Grey Gardens (1976). In addition, Albert's latest film, The Gates (2007), will be screened at the festival. Albert Maysles himself will be present at a screening of one of his films, as well as giving a Q&A and giving a detailed account of his illustrious career.