Iconic 'Wizard of Oz' Memorabilia Hits the Auction Block

In the lead-up to the upcoming auction of iconic costumes and props from the 1939 classic film 'The Wizard of Oz', Variety's Doc Dreams NYC event returned for its second year on November 10, featuring panels with some of this year's most compelling documentary filmmakers.

The first panel included directors and producers discussing their thought-provoking projects. Dan Farah of 'The Age of Disclosure' revealed the difficulties his subjects faced in lawfully disclosing sensitive information about the existence of non-human intelligent life, while Petra Costa's 'Apocalypse in the Tropics' explores the rise of Christian nationalism in Brazil and the backlash she faced from the country's former president. Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki also touched on how his film 'The Six Billion Dollar Man' about Julian Assange has become increasingly relevant amidst the global threat to public information access.

The second panel featured filmmakers behind projects like 'Becoming Led Zeppelin', 'Come See Me in the Good Light', and Ben Stiller's personal documentary 'Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost'. They shared the unique challenges they encountered, from securing distribution to navigating sensitive subject matter and personal connections with their subjects.

Despite the obstacles, these filmmakers have persevered to bring these untold stories to light, offering audiences a glimpse into the extraordinary and the controversial.