Rakontur

Rakontur's feature documentary debut, Raw Deal: A Question of Consent, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001, making Corben the youngest director to premiere in Sundance history.{{cite news|title=Rakontur Films' Marketing Strategy|url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-08-27/rakontur-films-marketing-strategy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712101425/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-08-27/rakontur-films-marketing-strategy|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012|accessdate=June 29, 2012|newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=August 27, 2008}} Examining the alleged rape of an exotic dancer at a University of Florida fraternity house, the film utilized extensive clips from videotape footage of the alleged assault. Considered by critics to be “one of the most controversial films of the modern day” and “one of the most compelling pieces of non-fiction ever produced,” (Film Threat Magazine),{{cite web|url=https://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/1653/|title=Review: Raw Deal: A Question of Consent|work=Film Threat Magazine}} Raw Deal landed on the cover of New York Post

{{cite web|url=http://rakontur.com/journal/2001/1/25/new-york-post-feature-rape-lies-and-videotape.html|title=Rape, Lies and Videotape|work=New York Post}} and has been seen all over the world.

Following that success Rakontur took on another Florida true-crime story, this one closer to home. The New York Times called Cocaine Cowboys, “a hyperventilating account of the blood-drenched Miami drug culture in the 1970s and 1980s.”

{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/10/27/movies/27cowb.html|title=Movie Review: Cocaine Cowboys — A Culture Built of Guns, Drugs and Blood|work=The New York Times | first=Jeannette | last=Catsoulis | date=October 27, 2006}} The non-fiction film chronicles how the cocaine trade built their hometown of Miami through firsthand accounts of some of the most successful smugglers of the era and the deadliest hitman of the cocaine wars.

Cocaine Cowboys was New York Magazine's Critic's Pick{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/movies/reviews/16813/index2.html|title=2006 Tribeca Scorecard|work=New York Magazine}} when it premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival and, after a limited theatrical release, the movie became a worldwide phenomenon on DVD and the highest-rated documentary in the history of the Showtime cable network. The sequel, Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin’ with the Godmother, was released in 2008.

The U, a feature documentary about the championship history of the University of Miami Hurricanes football program, produced by Rakontur for ESPN's 30 for 30 series, became the highest-rated{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118012832.html?categoryId=1011&cs=1#|title='The U' sets docu record at ESPN|work=Variety | first=Stuart | last=Levine | date=2009-12-16}} documentary in the network's 30-year history, when it debuted on December 12, 2009, following the Heisman Trophy presentation.

Rakontur debuted two new films in the first half of 2011. Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja, examining the free-wheeling pot smuggling of South Florida in the 1970s, had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in March, followed by a limited theatrical and DVD release by Magnolia Pictures.{{cite web|url=http://www.squaregroupermovie.com/blog/ |title=Square Grouper *Blog |accessdate=October 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914040739/http://squaregroupermovie.com/blog/ |archivedate=September 14, 2011 }}

Rakontur released Broke, a documentary about former professional athletes who have squandered their wealth, at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.

In 2012, the company produced Dawg Fight, a brutal exposé on underground backyard MMA fighting in one of Miami's toughest neighborhoods.{{Cite web|date=2015-03-04|title=Documentary on Miami-Dade County back yard boxing ring to premiere|url=https://www.local10.com/news/2015/03/04/documentary-on-miami-dade-county-back-yard-boxing-ring-to-premiere/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=WPLG|language=en}}

In 2007 and again in 2010, Rakontur was selected for the Realscreen Global 100,{{cite web|url=http://www.realscreen.com/global100/2007.cgi|title=2007 Global 100|work=Realscreen}}{{cite web|url=http://www.realscreen.com/articles/magazine/20100301/global100marapr10.html?page=6|title=2010 Global 100|work=Realscreen}} “an annual list of the most exciting and influential production companies working in non-fiction film and television." That same year, Spellman and Corben were listed among of the 50 Most Influential People in Miami by The SunPost{{cite web|url=http://www.rakontur.com/journal/2007/4/26/sun-post-names-us-among-the-50-most-influential-people-in-mi.html|title=50 Most Influential People in Miami|work=The Sun Post}}{{primary source claim|date=May 2010}}. In December 2009, the Miami New Times declared Cocaine Cowboys #3 on its "Top Ten of the Decade: Miami in Pop Culture."{{cite web|url=http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/12/top_ten_miami_moments_in_pop_c.php?page=4|title=Top Ten of the Decade: Miami in Pop Culture|work=Miami New Times}}

• Raw Deal: A Question of Consent (2001){{cite web |title=Raw Deal: A Question of Consent |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/raw_deal_a_question_of_consent |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Todd |title=Raw Deal: A Question of Consent |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/markets-festivals/raw-deal-a-question-of-consent-1200466909/ |publisher=Variety |date=February 6, 2001}}{{cite news |title=Raw Deal: A Question of Consent |url=https://filmthreat.com/uncategorized/raw-deal-a-question-of-consent/ |publisher=Film Threat |date=January 26, 2001}}{{cite news |last1=Barker |first1=Adam |title=A question of consent |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jan/28/channel4.mondaymediasection |work=The Guardian |date=January 27, 2002}}
• Cocaine Cowboys (2006){{cite web |title=Cocaine Cowboys |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10007598-cocaine_cowboys |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Noel |title=Cocaine Cowboys |url=https://www.avclub.com/cocaine-cowboys-1798202125 |publisher=AV Club |date=October 26, 2006}}{{cite news|last=Catsoulis|first=Jeannette|title=Cocaine Cowboys (2006) A Culture Built of Guns, Drugs and Blood|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/10/27/movies/27cowb.html|accessdate=29 June 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=27 October 2006}}{{cite news |title=Cocaine Cowboys |url=https://filmthreat.com/uncategorized/cocaine-cowboys/ |publisher=Film Threat |date=October 25, 2006}}
• Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' with the Godmother (2008){{cite news |last1=Koehler |first1=Robert |title=Cocaine Cowboys II: Hustlin' With the Godmother |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/reviews/cocaine-cowboys-ii-hustlin-with-the-godmother-1200508791/ |publisher=Variety |date=June 25, 2008}}{{cite news |last1=Duran |first1=Jose |title=Cocaine Cowboys 2 Takes Its Cues From '90s West Coast Hood Flicks |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/cocaine-cowboys-2-takes-its-cues-from-90s-west-coast-hood-flicks-6524056 |publisher=Miami New Times |date=July 29, 2008}}
• Clubland (2008){{cite news |last1=Alvarado |first1=Francisco |title=Ego Trippin': Rakontur's Clubland Finally Hits the Web |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/ego-trippin-rakonturs-clubland-finally-hits-the-web-6477108 |publisher=Miami New Times |date=November 18, 2008}}
• The U (2009){{cite news |last1=Tobias |first1=Scott |title=30 For 30: "The U" |url=https://www.avclub.com/30-for-30-the-u-1798207672 |publisher=AV Club |date=December 13, 2009}}{{cite news |last1=Levine |first1=Stuart |title='The U' sets docu record at ESPN |url=https://variety.com/2009/tv/news/the-u-sets-docu-record-at-espn-1118012832/ |publisher=Variety |date=December 16, 2009}}{{cite news |last1=Deitsch |first1=Richard |title=Ranking the Best 30 for 30 Documentaries (So Far) |url=https://www.si.com/media/2017/08/13/rankings-espn-30-for-30-documentaries |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=August 13, 2017}}
• Square Grouper (2011){{cite news |last1=O'Hehir |first1=Andrew |title="Square Grouper": A hilarious, tragic tale of Florida ganja |url=https://www.salon.com/2011/04/16/square_grouper/ |work=Salon |date=April 16, 2011}}{{cite web |title=Square Grouper |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/square_grouper_the_godfathers_of_ganja |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}
• Limelight (2011){{cite news |last1=Catsoulis |first1=Jeannette |title=Rise and Fall of a Nightclub Impresario |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/movies/limelight-documentary-about-the-club-impresario-peter-gatien-review.html |work=New York Times |date=September 22, 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Weisberg |first1=Sam |title="Limelight," the NYC club phenomenon that was |url=https://screencomment.com/2011/09/review-limelight/ |publisher=Screen Comment |date=September 24, 2011}}
• Broke (2012){{cite news |last1=Tobias |first1=Scott |title=30 For 30: "Broke" |url=https://www.avclub.com/30-for-30-broke-1798174410 |publisher=AV Club |date=October 2, 2012}}
• Collision Course (2013){{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Vanessa |title=Watch 'Collision Course,' Billy Corben's New ESPN '30 For 30' Short On The Murder Of Don Aronow (VIDEO) |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/collision-course-billy-corben_n_3997402 |publisher=HuffPost |date=September 26, 2013}}
• The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop (2014){{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Brennan |title=Steve Stoute Talks VH1 Docu-Series 'The Tanning Of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/steve-stoute-vh1-docu-series-the-tanning-of-america-one-nation-under-hip-hop_n_4855193 |publisher=HuffPost |date=February 25, 2014}}
• Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded (2014){{cite web |last1=Kluger |first1=Bryan |title=Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded |url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/10647/cocaine_cowboys_reloaded.html |website=High Def Digest |date=June 3, 2014}}
• The U Part 2 (2014){{cite news |last1=Lowry |first1=Brian |title=TV Review: ESPN's 'The U Part 2' |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/reviews/tv-review-espns-the-u-part-2-1201374107/ |publisher=Variety |date=December 11, 2014}}
• Dawg Fight (2015){{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Rene |title=Dawg Fight |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/miami-international-film-festival/article12805355.html |publisher=Miami Herald |date=March 6, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Valys |first1=Phillip |title=Billy Corben's 'Dawg Fight' steps into the ring |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/sf-miami-dawg-fight-rakontur-billy-corben-20150310-story.html |publisher=Sun-Sentinel |date=March 10, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Chris |title=Cocaine Cowboys Director Takes on Backyard Fighting |url=https://www.maxim.com/entertainment/cocaine-cowboys-director-takes-backyard-fighting |publisher=Maxim |date=March 9, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Rene |title='Dawg Fight' |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/miami-international-film-festival/article12805355.html |publisher=Miami Herald |date=March 6, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Montgomery |first1=James |title='Dawg Fight' Director Pulls No Punches With His Brutal New Film |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/dawg-fight-director-pulls-no-punches-with-his-brutal-new-film-48982/ |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=May 15, 2015}}
• Miami Beach 100 (2015){{cite web |title=Watch Miami Beach 100 |url=https://www.rakontur.com/miami-beach-100-2015 |website=rakontur}}
• Magic City Hustle (2019){{cite news |title=New 'Magic City Hustle' Documentary Brings Jai Alai Back To Life |url=https://www.wlrn.org/show/sundial/2019-03-01/new-magic-city-hustle-documentary-brings-jai-alai-back-to-life |publisher=WLRN |date=March 1, 2019}}
• Screwball (2019){{cite news |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Phil |title=The gang that couldn't shoot up straight: 'Screwball' a comic take on A-Rod's PED scandal |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-spt-alex-rodriguez-biogenesis-documentary-screwball-20190401-story.html |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=April 1, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Tallerico |first1=Brian |title=Screwball |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/screwball-2019 |website=RogerEbert.com |date=March 29, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Gay |first1=Jason |title=How A-Rod Explains Modern America |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-rod-explains-modern-america-11553784264 |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=March 28, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Schager |first1=Nick |title='Screwball': Inside the Damning Steroid Movie Alex Rodriguez Doesn't Want You to See |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/screwball-inside-the-damning-steroid-movie-alex-rodriguez-doesnt-want-you-to-see |publisher=The Daily Beast |date=March 23, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Mullen |first1=Pat |title=TIFF Review: 'Screwball' |url=http://povmagazine.com/articles/view/tiff-review-screwball |publisher=POV |date=September 15, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Mancini |first1=Vince |title='Screwball' Is Another Masterpiece Of Insane Floridiana From Filmmaker Billy Corben |url=https://uproxx.com/movies/screwball-review-arod-florida-billy-corben/ |publisher=Uproxx |date=March 28, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Rechtshaffen |first1=Michael |title=Review: Alex Rodriguez and the 2013 MLB doping scandal get the doc treatment in 'Screwball' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-screwball-review-20190328-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 28, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Abele |first1=Robert |title='Screwball' Film Review: Billy Corben's Baseball Doping Doc Is Disreputable Fun |url=https://www.thewrap.com/screwball-film-review-baseball-steroids-documentary/ |publisher=The Wrap |date=March 26, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=McNear |first1=Claire |title='Screwball' Is the Bizarro Documentary A-Rod and the Biogenesis Scandal Deserve |url=https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2019/4/5/18296047/screwball-alex-rodriguez-biogenesis-billy-corben |publisher=The Ringer |date=April 5, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Screwball |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/screwball |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}
• 537 Votes (2020){{cite news |last1=Roeper |first1=Richard |title='537 Votes': How the Supreme Court and irate people in Miami picked a president |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2020/10/20/21523389/537-votes-review-hbo-documentary-bush-gore-2000-election-president-elian-gonzalez |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |date=October 20, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Andy |title=Remember Bush v. Gore — or Be Doomed to Repeat It |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/bush-v-gore-trump-biden-2020-florida-recount-537-votes-1079196/ |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=October 22, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Trey |title=HBO to Debut 2000 Presidential Election Doc '537 Votes' on Oct. 21 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/hbo-2000-presidential-election-documentary-537-votes-corben-mckay/ |publisher=The Wrap |date=September 18, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Howard |title=New HBO documentary by Miami filmmakers revisits 2000 election as a 'heist' film |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article245837330.html |publisher=Miami Herald |date=September 18, 2020}}{{cite web |title=537 Votes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/537_votes |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}{{cite news |last1=Mancini |first1=Vince |title=Miami Screwed The World In 2000: '537 Votes' Caps Off Billy Corben's Career Documenting 'Florida F*ckery' |url=https://uproxx.com/movies/billy-corben-537-votes-florida-interview/ |publisher=Uproxx |date=October 21, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Lowry |first1=Brian |title='537 Votes' revisits Florida election chaos in 2000 as a prelude to 2020 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/21/entertainment/537-votes-review/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=October 21, 2020}}
• Macho Man (2021){{cite web |title=A&E and WWE Give Fans the Ultimate Ringside Seat in New 10-Week Original Programming Partnership Starting Sunday, April 18 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/02/23/aande-and-wwe-give-fans-the-ultimate-ringside-seat-in-new-10-week-original-programming-partnership-starting-sunday-april-18-841011/20210223aande01/ |website=The Futon Critic |date=February 23, 2021}}
• From Russia With Lev (2024){{cite magazine |author1-first = Jennifer |author1-last = Maas |date = 2023-05-22 |title = Billy Corben's Rakontur sets doc 'From Russia With Lev,' following Lev Parnas' 'Forrest Gumpian presence' in Trump scandals |language = en |magazine = Variety |url = https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/trump-doc-lev-parnas-from-russia-billy-corben-rakontur-1235619024/ |access-date = 2024-09-09 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230522172143/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/trump-doc-lev-parnas-from-russia-billy-corben-rakontur-1235619024/ |archive-date = 2023-05-22 |url-status = live}}

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• [http://www.rakontur.com/ Official website]

Category:Companies based in Miami

Category:Companies established in 2000

Category:Documentary film production companies

Category:Film production companies of the United States